HIV: more or less virulent over time? The answer to this seems to be determined according to where you are infected. A recently published African study (pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1413339111) suggested that in Southern Africa, the replicative capacity of HIV in the region had decreased. In contrast, a European cohort of almost 16 000 patients seems to suggest the opposite is true of HIV infections acquired in Europe (dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(14)00002-2). One thought is that the viruses in the two region differ vastly from one another, and the virus adapts rapidly to local conditions. In a population that is largely untreated, as was the case in Sub-Saharan Africa until recently, it makes sense for the virus to become less virulent, to ensure its own survival. However in a highly treated population such as that of Europe, the virus needs to become more virulent to ensure its survival. With the huge strides seen in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of getting people onto ART, could we expect to see similar changes in virulence here in years to come?
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 06:38:02 +0000
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