HIV Decoded
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- graemesmith
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Scientists have revealed they have decoded the entire genetic structure of HIV-1, the main type of HIV infection in humans. The vast majority of HIV infections globally are HIV-1, another strain called HIV-2 occurs mainly in West Africa.
Decoding all this information will help scientists understand more about the virus and help in the creation of further drugs treatments. With all the genetic information available, scientists will be able to look at information buried deep inside the complex virus.
HIV along with the influenza virus and Hepatitis C carries its information as single strand RNA as opposed to double strand like most other things. Whilst information encoded in DNA is usually rather sinple, in single strand RNA this is more complex. This is because RNA is able to fold into intricate patterns and structures. By opening this up scientists will have access to information that was previously unavailable.
Scientists are hoping to make small changes to the virus using this information. "If it doesn't grow as well when you disrupt the virus with mutations, then you know you've mutated or affected something that was important to the virus," says Ron Swanstrom, professor of microbiology and immunology. "We are also beginning to understand tricks the genome uses to help the virus escape detection by the human host" he added.
HIV-1 is the most transmittable form of the disease around the world and is highly virulent. It is the virus that leads to AIDS eventually after it wears down the immune system. The single most effective way to avoid infection is to use condoms and avoid sharing needles for any reason. 0.6 per cent of the worlds population is infected with HIV and it killed nearly 3 million people last year, mainly in Africa and the developing world.
Decoding all this information will help scientists understand more about the virus and help in the creation of further drugs treatments. With all the genetic information available, scientists will be able to look at information buried deep inside the complex virus.
HIV along with the influenza virus and Hepatitis C carries its information as single strand RNA as opposed to double strand like most other things. Whilst information encoded in DNA is usually rather sinple, in single strand RNA this is more complex. This is because RNA is able to fold into intricate patterns and structures. By opening this up scientists will have access to information that was previously unavailable.
Scientists are hoping to make small changes to the virus using this information. "If it doesn't grow as well when you disrupt the virus with mutations, then you know you've mutated or affected something that was important to the virus," says Ron Swanstrom, professor of microbiology and immunology. "We are also beginning to understand tricks the genome uses to help the virus escape detection by the human host" he added.
HIV-1 is the most transmittable form of the disease around the world and is highly virulent. It is the virus that leads to AIDS eventually after it wears down the immune system. The single most effective way to avoid infection is to use condoms and avoid sharing needles for any reason. 0.6 per cent of the worlds population is infected with HIV and it killed nearly 3 million people last year, mainly in Africa and the developing world.
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sickinjersey
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I agree lite very interesting
- 3 years ago
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sickinjersey
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condomelite1
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Very interesting and educational!
- 3 years ago
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condomelite1
