HIV may be becoming less fit as it adapts to the immune system

published on November 8, 2013 in aidsmap

HIV, at least in some parts of the world, may be developing a lower replicative capacity as it adapts to variations in the human immune system, studies in southern Africa and elsewhere suggest.

Philip Goulder of the University of Oxford told the AIDS Vaccine conference last month that competition between HIV and certain varieties of human HLA (human leukocyte antigen) genes may be contributing to a diminution in HIV virulence, a lower community viral load, and an increased proportion of ‘elite controllers’ in the population.

Goulder remarked that these changes seemed to be happening surprisingly fast, and that in some populations the introduction of antiretroviral therapy would also tend to reduce the fitness of the HIV that was still circulating.

Gus Cairns
aidsmap
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HIV may be becoming less fit as it adapts to the immune system

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