1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

General News HIV is adapting to hosts and mutating.

Discussion in 'Current Events, World News, & LGBT News' started by Sully, Apr 28, 2014.

  1. Sully

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2013
    Messages:
    663
    Likes Received:
    0
    Gender:
    Male
  2. Tim

    Tim
    Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    1,474
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    California
    ...this is news? (not directed at you, at the site)

    This is literally why a cure has never been found. It mutates much faster than almost any other virus, and adapts and changes constantly.
     
  3. Hiems

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,183
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New Jersey
    To add, vaccines won't work either. The immunogen needs consistently expressed antigens on its surface for the vaccine to do its job. Since HIV mutates a lot, its antigens change so frequently that the vaccine becomes pretty useless.
     
  4. Minnie

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2013
    Messages:
    228
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Scotland, UK
    There has to be a mathematical and biological method to predict the successive stages of its evolution in order to produce an effective vaccine.
     
  5. Aquilo

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    Messages:
    631
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Europe
    No, not really. A vaccine attacks the outer layer of the virus which consists of glycoproteins if it recognizes that certain glycoprotein. When the virus mutates it gains another type of glycoprotein and the vaccine doesn't recognize the virus anymore.

    Evolution doesn't care to get the 'best' solution, only better solutions and mutation is random. This means that there is evolutionary pressure for the virus to get another glycoprotein, but it does not matter which type, as long as it's a different one. So the next glycoproteins the virus gains in mutations can't be predicted...
     
  6. mnguy

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2006
    Messages:
    2,377
    Likes Received:
    450
    Location:
    Mountain hermitage
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    My first reaction was that until this infects more straight people in privileged countries, they won't pay much attention. If/when that happens there will be a backlash against the GLBT community for spreading HIV. If it gets bad enough, hopefully people will pull together and solve the riddle that is HIV and other viruses.

    My next reaction was how sad that would be if it really happens like that, although the happy ending would be nice.
     
  7. resu

    Advisor Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,968
    Likes Received:
    395
    Location:
    Oklahoma City
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    There are some methods, including "directed evolution," where scientists use artificial methods to select for certain traits (basically speeding up the process). Also, there are still conserved things in the HIV genome and molecules that are required for it to succesfully invade, replicate, and exit cells. A lot of research is being done on these conserved regions.
     
  8. photoguy93

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2012
    Messages:
    1,893
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    St. Olaf
    It would just be smarter to work on a fabulous treatment method. HIV itself is not an immediate death sentence. One can live a really good life if treated properly. To me, the advancements in treatment are astonishing - people are living years and years longer. That's a huge step for such a devastating disease! If we can do that, then I'd say that a lot more is possible!