Immune to HIV?

Question

Is it true that a small percentage of the population is immune to the HIV virus?

Answer 1

About one percent (1%) of the population has some genetic "immunity" to HIV. It's due to a genetic mutation in a gene called "CCR5". About 20% of the population is "heterozygous" for this mutation, meaning they only have part of it. This causes the course of the disease to progress slowly, but is not complete immunity.

There is still some debate as to how much immunity this gene provides, but so far the evidence is promising. The gene is also the focus of a lot of research for medications.

Here's a link to some information about the CCR5 gene.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCR5-%CE%9432#CCR5-.CE.9432

(On a side note, I notice that many people here just jump up and scream "NO, there's no immunity". PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you aren't qualified to answer a question like this... DON'T!!! I hate to say it, but you are all just factually wrong.)

Answer 2

YES IT IS, contrary to popular belief. There is evidence that genetic immunity goes back centuries, and the type varies by ethnic background, more prevalent in scandavians and swedes, but also occuring in china as well. There have been documented cases of people with a gene mutation that makes them immune to HIV, also some just have highly activated immune systems that attack HIV. Check out the sources for some vvery interesting reading.

Answer 3

According to scientific research, I would have to answer your question yes. There is scientific evidence that supports that a small percentage of the population who are descendants of those who survived the Bubonic or Black Plague have inherited a genetic resistance to HIV, a gene called CCRC-Delta-32.
This was taken from excerpt: www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_plague/clues
Meanwhile, recent work with another disease strikingly similar to the plague, AIDS, suggests O'Brien was on the right track. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, tricks the immune system in a similar manner as the plague bacterium, targeting and taking over white blood cells. Virologist Dr. Bill Paxton at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York City noticed, "the center had no study of people who were exposed to HIV but who had remained negative." He began testing the blood of high-risk, HIV-negative individuals like Steve Crohn, exposing their blood to three thousand times the amount of HIV normally needed to infect a cell. Steve's blood never became infected. "We thought maybe we had infected the culture with bacteria or whatever," says Paxton. "So we went back to Steve. But it was the same result. We went back again and again. Same result." Paxton began studying Crohn's DNA, and concluded there was some sort of blocking mechanism preventing the virus from binding to his cells. Further research showed that that mechanism was delta 32.

Scientists studying HIV first learned about the gateway-blocking capacity of the CCR5 mutation in 1996. Several drug companies, then, quickly began exploring the possibility of developing pharmaceuticals that would mimic delta 32 by binding to CCR5 and blocking the attachment of HIV. Previous methods of treatment interfered with HIV's ability to replicate after the virus has already entered a cell. This new class of HIV treatment, called early-inhibitor -- or fusion-inhibitor -- drugs seek to prevent the virus from ever attaching at all. These pharmaceuticals are still in relatively early stages of development, but certainly stand as a hopeful new method of approaching HIV treatment.

Answer 4

Actually, it is true. look it up. There are a very small percentage among us who carry a gene that makes them immune to HIV AIDS. There are studies to try and use this to help stop the spread of this horrific disease.

Answer 5

yes, those who are immune to the bubonic plague are immune to HV/AIDS. it's only a small percentage of the world who has this immunity.

Answer 6

Well it has been said that some people can be carries of hiv and not have AIDS. But no one is immune to it. You can be exposed to HIV and not get AIDS.

Once the virus enters your bloodstream you are infected with it.

Answer 7

No one is immune to the HIV virus.

Answer 8

It is true, but the chances are so low, you would be more likely to see jesus in your lifetime then have this be your fate.



http://www.aegis.com/news/newsday/1998/ND980701.html

http://www.rense.com/general45/immune.htm

Those are a couple websites.

Answer 9

No it is not the case, though I've heard that scientists are working to develop that.

Always remember that it should never be considered taking risks when AIDS is concerned.
Whoever told you this was talking crap...

Take care.....

Answer 10

Two women have been identified as carrying a mutant gene that is immune to HIV/AIDS, the first such cases uncovered in China, a researcher said.
The finding is the joint effort of a research programme, "Association of Human Genetic Polymorphisms with HIV Affections," jointly conducted by the University of Washington in the US State of Washington and local Infectious Disease Hospitals and medical institutions in Guangdong Province.
Tuofu Zhu, associate professor of University of Washington and associate director of the Clinical Core at the Centre for AIDS Research (CFAR), introduced the programme to China a year ago as a part of his global research in nations in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.
"Before, such mutant genes were only found in Caucasians. The finding has encouraged us to do further research in China, with the aim of developing medicines to prevent and cure HIV/AIDS for different races,"said Zhu.
China is now at a key moment in adopting effective measures to control and prevent HIV/AIDS as the disease moves from high risk populations to the general population, in most cases though sexual transmission, Zhu pointed out.
Zhu said that setting up a research centre in Guangdong Province is appropriate as its population has made it the best platform for collecting diversified samples.
"With the largest mobile population in China, we can get samples from migrants who are from other parts of the country," said Zhu.
Since a greater number of patients infected with sexual transmitted disease in particular are reported in Guangdong Province, sample collections are more efficient than other regions in China, Zhu added.
So far, according to Zhu, his programme in Shenzhen has identified 11 Exposed Seronegatives (ES) since January.
Zhu explained that the immune systems of some individuals may be capable of resisting HIV infection. These individuals who do not appear to be infected with HIV despite multiple sexual encounters with HIV infected partners are referred to as exposed seronegatives (ES).
To be specific, any one who has conducted sexual activities at least twice weekly in four consecutive months with an HIV-infected partner might be identified as ES.
Of 11 ES cases, two cases have later been identified as carrying the mutant genes.
In Zhu's opinion, if medicine functioning similarly with the genes was put in the vagina and rectum, the HIV virus couldn't find its carrier to enter the human body and thus would be expelled.
In Shenzhen, both confirmed samples are women who have been exposed to HIV for many years but remained uninfected.
One of them, in her 40s, has kept a regular sexual life with her husband without any protection measures for nine years. Her husband, who was infected with the deadly virus by blood transfusion in 1994, was hospitalized in Shenzhen's Donghu Hospital in July last year.
However, due to the limited qualified samples, Zhu said it is still too early to draw any conclusion from the programme, adding "we definitely need more support from the local hospital, medical institutions and government to collect more data from ES people."

Researchers have uncovered unusual behaviors of human immune systems that seem to have protected certain babies in Canada, prostitutes in Thailand and Africa, and gay men in San Francisco from HIV, despite exposure to the AIDS virus.
The protections do not appear to be genetic, and may offer some critical clues to those hoping to make a vaccine against HIV.


i hope this helps! :)