Is there an available genetic test for the delta 32 allele?

Question

I was watching Discovery Health tonight and learned that there are some people in the world who are immune to HIV. I never knew that. I suspected it must be so, but completely missed that these people had been discovered. So I wondered if there is some genetic test on the market to show whether people are carriers of this genetic mutation.

Answer 1

mdGreg is on the right track. The HIV needs a specific receptor on the CD4 lymphocyte called the CCR5. The irony of this is that there is a population of Jewish decent ( Ashkenazi) that does not have this receptor which prevents them from being infected with HIV; however, they are so susceptible to other genetic diseases; Tay-Sachs, Guachers, and Ovarian cancers, to name a few.

Answer 2

I don't Know of a Test of Any Specific Gene Deletion, Perhaps Secondarily for a Protein Product, Nothing Commonly Available for CCR5DEL32.


juno406: Thanks Man.