CCR5 Gene and HIV/AIDS

People carrying a mutation in the gene that codes for the CCR5 protein on the surface of white blood cells, key cells in the immune system, are better able to resist HIV infection. In old news from March 2005 that’s new to me, researchers hypothesized that exposure to repeated plague outbreaks in Europe during the Middle Ages may have favored survivors with the CCR5 gene mutation. (Biology News, March 11, 2005)

There is debate whether it was plague or smallpox which led to an increase in the number of Europeans who carry the CCR5 gene mutation – about 10% of modern-day Europeans have it. But the CCR5 protein encoded by the mutated gene seems to prevent HIV from entering white blood cells and causing havoc in the immune system.

And another thing I did not know (among many others), Microsoft Research is not only doing research in computer-related fields, they are also involved in using data-mining techniques to develop a vaccine against HIV. Examining data on both HIV RNA sequences and HIV patients’ genomes, they are attempting to identify patterns in viral evolution, which they hope will lead to a plan of attack on HIV. (MSDN Magazine, September 2005)

For more news and information on HIV/AIDS, check out AIDS Combat Zone.

*Pointer to Journal of Medical Genetics paper from The Atlantic, June 2005 (subscription only)
*Pointer to MSDN Magazine from snowdeal.org