AIDS risks boosted by genetic trait in African Americans
2008-07-17 16:32:09 (GMT) (Caymanmama.com - Health News News)Houston, Texas (CaymanMama.com) — As per a recent research study, African Americans are more susceptible to the HIV virus.
Scientists have estimated that this trait provides good protection against a form of malaria which may account for about 11% of HIV cases in the African continent. As per the findings of Matthew J. Dolan, study co-author at the San Antonio Military Medical Center and Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center, the history of the disease and evolution still affect people. He added, “The benefit that the Africans got from a mutation that gave them some resistance to malaria has, statistically at least, rendered them some increased susceptibility to HIV.”
Researchers have been actively involved in finding the reason behind why some people escape developing the disease despite repeated exposure to it like in the cases of fetus of an infected mother and gay men. In a new study, more than 1,200 members of the U.S. military infected with HIV were studied. It was conducted in order to trace how genetics affect the disease. The findings of the study were published in the July 17th issue of Cell Host & Microbe.
The researchers have found that one of the genetic traits found in 90% of Africans and 60% of African-Americans makes the HIV infection more likely by 40%. This trait is almost non-existent in white people. Dolan has estimated that increased susceptibility of the disease can account to a great deal of AIDS cases. He said, “The benefit that the Africans got from a mutation that gave them some resistance to malaria has, statistically at least, rendered them some increased susceptibility to HIV.”
CaymanMama.com - Press Release Distribution Service
Comments
Articles
- Pakistani youth deprived of recreational facilities
- How to Identify a Brain Injury
- Bluetooth technology: Revolutionized
- Color card printing best for business promotion and personal use
- What is Depression?
- Brochure Templates made easy with PrintPelican.com
- Flyers as best marketing tool for business enterprise
- Who uses an RSS Feed?
- A guide to personal injury claims
- DVD versus HD/DVD
