Random mutation grants HIV immunity to two Chinese women

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-10-06 11:33pm

Eat it, you creationist fuckwads.

China Daily wrote:Two women found with HIV-immune mutant gene
Wang Zhuoqiong
2004-10-01 05:17

SHENZHEN: Two women have been identified as carrying a mutant gene that is immune to HIV/AIDS, the first such cases uncovered in China, a researcher said.

The finding is the joint effort of a research programme, "Association of Human Genetic Polymorphisms with HIV Affections," jointly conducted by the University of Washington in the US State of Washington and local Infectious Disease Hospitals and medical institutions in Guangdong Province.

Tuofu Zhu, associate professor of University of Washington and associate director of the Clinical Core at the Centre for AIDS Research (CFAR), introduced the programme to China a year ago as a part of his global research in nations in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

"Before, such mutant genes were only found in Caucasians. The finding has encouraged us to do further research in China, with the aim of developing medicines to prevent and cure HIV/AIDS for different races,"said Zhu.

China is now at a key moment in adopting effective measures to control and prevent HIV/AIDS as the disease moves from high risk populations to the general population, in most cases though sexual transmission, Zhu pointed out.

Zhu said that setting up a research centre in Guangdong Province is appropriate as its population has made it the best platform for collecting diversified samples.

"With the largest mobile population in China, we can get samples from migrants who are from other parts of the country," said Zhu.

Since a greater number of patients infected with sexual transmitted disease in particular are reported in Guangdong Province, sample collections are more efficient than other regions in China, Zhu added.

So far, according to Zhu, his programme in Shenzhen has identified 11 Exposed Seronegatives (ES) since January.

Zhu explained that the immune systems of some individuals may be capable of resisting HIV infection. These individuals who do not appear to be infected with HIV despite multiple sexual encounters with HIV infected partners are referred to as exposed seronegatives (ES).

To be specific, any one who has conducted sexual activities at least twice weekly in four consecutive months with an HIV-infected partner might be identified as ES.

Of 11 ES cases, two cases have later been identified as carrying the mutant genes.

In Zhu's opinion, if medicine functioning similarly with the genes was put in the vagina and rectum, the HIV virus couldn't find its carrier to enter the human body and thus would be expelled.

In Shenzhen, both confirmed samples are women who have been exposed to HIV for many years but remained uninfected.

One of them, in her 40s, has kept a regular sexual life with her husband without any protection measures for nine years. Her husband, who was infected with the deadly virus by blood transfusion in 1994, was hospitalized in Shenzhen's Donghu Hospital in July last year.

However, due to the limited qualified samples, Zhu said it is still too early to draw any conclusion from the programme, adding "we definitely need more support from the local hospital, medical institutions and government to collect more data from ES people."

Well well well. A random mutation develops that grants a survival advantage. Perfect example of evolution in action.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-10-06 11:38pm

Indeed, and aren't there about ten gay men in Australia that have a similar mutation?

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2004-10-06 11:38pm

BREED THEM NOW!

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-10-06 11:38pm

But God will be mad at us if we take advantage of this discovery!

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-10-06 11:39pm

SyntaxVorlon wrote:BREED THEM NOW!

For shame. That would be "playing God."

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-10-06 11:42pm

Durandal wrote:
SyntaxVorlon wrote:BREED THEM NOW!
For shame. That would be "playing God."

For shame, as we all know loveless sex for the sole purpose of procreation is exactly in line with God's plan!

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2004-10-06 11:42pm

Stormbringer wrote:Indeed, and aren't there about ten gay men in Australia that have a similar mutation?

The number of times I've heard about this mutation leads me to suspect that it occured in the past and has simply been passed down.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-10-06 11:42pm

No, it must be God's will to save us from AIDS.

But AIDS is God's will to kill homosexuals.

Now I'm really confused.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-10-07 12:05am

Since homosexuals cannot reproduce, it IS all part of God's plan to protect heterosexuals, since gays who have the mutation will never pass it on, meaning that only heterosexuals will be saved, since no heterosexuals have any gay "genes," if in fact gay genes exist--which I doubt, since being gay is a choice and has no genetic ties whatsoever--indicating that in the future all gays will be dead and those of us in Aryan nations--I mean--heterosexuals will live in peace and harmony in a fasc... erm... socialist society.

Wow... What a run-on.

Actually, this is pretty cool. Now we know that even if AIDS were to randomly be strewn about everywhere or mutate to become airborne, the human species would survive. Cheers!

Exonerate · Post by **Exonerate** » 2004-10-07 12:08am

neoolong wrote:No, it must be God's will to save us from AIDS.

But AIDS is God's will to kill homosexuals.

Now I'm really confused.

God has given these sinning homosexuals a second chance to repent and accept the Gospel of Christ. He wants them to be the messengers to witness the rest of the gays living in sin!

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-10-07 12:16am

Hopefully China will suspend it's one child policy for these women.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2004-10-07 12:37am

Stormbringer wrote:Indeed, and aren't there about ten gay men in Australia that have a similar mutation?

They just had an HIV with a longer gestation rate. They became symptomatic and died.

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2004-10-07 04:04am

I be cautious about this "discovery", because its CHINA. You know, where state insitutes claim that TCM has came up with a solution to kill HIV virus in the blood.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-10-07 07:53am

This mutation has been around since the dark ages. It provided immunity to black death. meaning that a hell of a lot of people had it after the plague which is why its most prominent among europeans. If its been found in some chinese that suggests its even older believed.

There was a program on it a while back, Admiral valdimer probably know more.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-10-07 09:37am

I wouldn't get your hopes up. There was a whole harem of prostitutes in Africa that were seen to be immune to HIV infection, but once they started getting tested by WHO scientists after being taken off the red light scene, they all eventually became AIDS sufferers.

If it is the real deal, then there's still little we can do right now without some more thorough research. It's not like we can just suck their whole blood products out and inject it into anyone with HIV and cure them.

And don't forget, HIV mutates a damn sight faster than any cell based organism.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-10-07 09:46am

So if it is proven true any chance the mutant gene could lead to a vaccine ?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-10-07 09:53am

The Shadow wrote:So if it is proven true any chance the mutant gene could lead to a vaccine ?

Pfft, not bloody likely.

Every vaccine I have seen so far has flopped disastrously. The Institute of Science and Society (ISS) in the UK actually called for a moratorium to HIV vaccines because they caused more harm than good and had success rates, off the top of my head, no higher than 6%. Factor in the expensive synthesis protocol of the product and that a herd immunity rate of 95% of infected people needs to be brought about to make it effective, and you have one huge hurdle.

No, the US, UK and other western nations are far more content in selling the likes of AZT and other anti-AIDS drugs to nations for a good price.

I should also add that Creationists are stubborn people. It's not enough to show a good mutation, however rare, to them and say that proves evolution. You'd literally need a person to grow an extra eye in the back of their head overnight to get them to even contemplate their views being wrong.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-10-07 12:57pm

The Shadow wrote:So if it is proven true any chance the mutant gene could lead to a vaccine ?

Probably not. Probllem is, HIV mutates far to quickly, even if we did get a vaccine, it would be like the flu shot... but on a monthly rather than yearly basis, or even faster....

PainRack · Post by **PainRack** » 2004-10-07 12:59pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:I wouldn't get your hopes up. There was a whole harem of prostitutes in Africa that were seen to be immune to HIV infection, but once they started getting tested by WHO scientists after being taken off the red light scene, they all eventually became AIDS sufferers.

If it is the real deal, then there's still little we can do right now without some more thorough research. It's not like we can just suck their whole blood products out and inject it into anyone with HIV and cure them.

And don't forget, HIV mutates a damn sight faster than any cell based organism.

But then again, there has been cases like the baby who tested positive for HIV, but eventually had no HIV virii in his system...... (Pls don't strike me down if this is a case of a containmiated test)

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-10-07 04:46pm

PainRack wrote: But then again, there has been cases like the baby who tested positive for HIV, but eventually had no HIV virii in his system...... (Pls don't strike me down if this is a case of a containmiated test)

That's not one I recall well, do you have a link or anything? I'd appreciate it.

And while I won't strike you down for that, I will strike you down for saying "virii" and not "viruses".