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Researchers discover gene that blocks HIV

physorg.com — A team of researchers at the University of Alberta has discovered a gene that is able to block HIV, and in turn prevent the onset of AIDS.

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  • ALyken, on 03/25/2008, -5/+141This is good news for millions of people. My only hope is that it gets to the people who desperately need it.
    • tehpwnerofn00bs, on 03/01/2008, -0/+15Agreed. And hopefully it doesn't take too long to be fully developed and implemented. Sometimes that can take all too long.
      • theratboy, on 03/01/2008, -12/+4buy me a lemonade
        • Dotcommer, on 03/01/2008, -3/+1*****. Now that this has been found, my only incentive for going outside and running has gone away...
      • tech42er, on 03/01/2008, -11/+5Absolutely. But it's like Spore. Better it takes longer and is extensively tested than rushed to a release and problems are found afterward, right?
        • kevinmotel, on 03/01/2008, -2/+16are you comparing a potential cure for AIDS to Spore?
          • Sino, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2yea i read that twice, spore is a game dude, it could still suck either way, but this is about our future.
        • PeppermintPig, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Yes, drugs and treatments should be thoroughly tested, but we will have needlessly long waiting periods for any cure to come out because of groups like the FDA. Who knows what kind of competing drug company will come along and throw a monkey wrench into the efforts of those who have found a potential cure. I'm just saying it happens, and the time wasted is often more about anti-competition and shoring up profits than it is about providing a solution that people need. If a cure exists, and someone wants to try it, the FDA should not get in the way, yet they would.
          • Elephant789, on 03/01/2008, -1/+1What does the FDA have to do with this? Do they control all that is discovered in medicine on earth?
    • bthug7, on 03/01/2008, -0/+9I want it implemented quickly as much as the next guy, I'm just skeptical. Breakthroughs are made every day, that doesn't mean they found the magic cure. I wish it did, I have a feeling this gene will eventually reach the same status as the 1990s treatments. I know they're different methods, but genetics is so complicated. I truly hope I'm wrong though.
      • PeppermintPig, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4Same here... but you never know, some solutions discovered seem 'obviously' simple in nature after they've found them. That belies the complexity of providing a genetically based cure and the likely consequences of applying it, however.

        People who want the treatment should be free to participate in any tests immediately.
      • mydigga, on 03/01/2008, -2/+2Funny you should mention "magic cure"... as in Magic Johnson cure?
    • DeathfireD, on 03/01/2008, -0/+9"My only hope is that it gets to the people who desperately need it"
      the drug only prevents HIV from being spread from people to people, it doesn't cure people that already have it. At least that's what I understood from reading that. Which is still astonishing if this proves to be true, it should help allot.
      • emjaymj, on 03/01/2008, -1/+5Wrong, it blocks the cell-to-cell transmission. Having one or only a few cells infected with HIV would be trivial - cells of all kinds are constantly dying and being replaced. It's when the virus spreads throughout your body that you have a big problem, and this gene prevents that from happening. I'd also hesitate to call this news although the article was just published today, scientists have been aware of the gene for some time now.
      • mrc22091, on 03/01/2008, -2/+0HIV is transferred via bodily fluids. Your skin already stops it from spreading from person to person, unless your brain compromises it.
    • CoolWind, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1This is good news, but they haven't found a way to take advantage of their discovery. There is no drug in the works. It may eventually result in a drug, but that would be the subject of another article.
    • donttaseme, on 03/01/2008, -2/+1There is a joke here somewhere relating to Digg and its fear of sex.
    • phantom_mullet, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2The only problem with this is a big one: how do we turn on this gene? We have really only scratched the surface of the relatively new field of epigenetics, which deals with how a cell turns genes on and off. Studies have shown that, even in identical twins, the epigenetic makeup can be drastically different. In addition, who's to say that turning on or overexpressing this gene won't do more harm than good? What else could that protein product affect? It is these kinds of issues that often prevent discoveries such as this from materializing into viable treatments.
      • vornan19, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I remember watching something on PBS that basically put forward that HIV attacks cells like bubonic plague. In short people who were exposed to the Black Death and survived had a gene that blocked cell to cell transmission. Their descendants also have this gene. Most likely by now they would be lucky to have one expressed copy. This gene is by no means wide spread.
        Which explains how some partners of people who die from AIDS don't themselves die.
      • mrc22091, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1You've got the right idea. Turning on this gene might have all sorts of negative side effects, and we've got to find a way to turn it on in the first place. Genes (DNA) are in the nucleus of a cell, behind several layers of membranes, and if you do manage to get an agent there, it has to know exactly which gene to turn on. Of course, you have to get the gene there if the person doesn't have it. The risk of failing to properly manipulate genetics with precision is rather great, and the consequences range from cancer to every other genetic disorder.

        Of course, we've tried manipulating our DNA already, with viruses that insert benign DNA. It utterly failed; our immune system got in the way of the virus. hmm, but people with AIDS have suppressed immune systems... w/e i'll leave it to the researchers from here.
    • Mustard911, on 03/01/2008, -2/+1but isn't HIV are theory? They have never seen or detected the virus bar someone having immune spikes.
  • onishenko, on 03/01/2008, -2/+87Great news! Same university that had the break though in the drug that was 'curing' many types of cancer this past fall. Great things seem to be coming from the progressive medical research of this university.
    • Darthmalt, on 03/01/2008, -0/+15Wait, haven't we seen this movie before? Sure it looks great now but soon we'll discover some unpleasant (and usually bloody) side effects.
      • bobangitanov2, on 03/01/2008, -1/+8screw you and your pessimism :(
        • thetechkid, on 03/01/2008, -1/+19Just wait till Will Smith has confined himself on Ground Zero working on a vaccination. Then you'll be eating your words.
        • edicius, on 03/01/2008, -0/+11And being eaten by your neighbor.
    • archcvd, on 03/01/2008, -0/+6They're hot on the trail of nanotechnology as well with the new National Institute for Nanotechnology they finished building a couple of years ago. I feel pretty lucky to be a student there.
    • iMiXiMi, on 03/01/2008, -0/+10U of A in Edmonton Alberta Canada. Second largest University in Canada.
      • fluxingtontheIV, on 03/01/2008, -8/+3I don't get it, whenever an American city is described, it is just the city, state. Why when it is a Canadian city it has to be city, province, Canada?
        • jsauter, on 03/01/2008, -0/+13Because the media outlets assume that their readers have no idea where Alberta is, let alone Edmonton. I would have to agree, as an American living in Alberta I often had my friends asking me if I was within a days driving distance of Toronto.
    • Mikhail101, on 03/01/2008, -4/+2too bad when breakthroughs like this happen people usually "kill themselves" or "dissapear"
      • oxdeltaxo, on 03/01/2008, -2/+2Their research mysteriously disappears too,a company releases their discovery years later after many lives could be saved.
        • twomeyw23334, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1True, many evil companies have cures to our diseases but instead of making money with them they hide them to keep the CEO rich. Is that how the conspiracy goes?
          • yojiffyskippy, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Usually what really happens it they give it to a "friend of a friend" but while driving their "cure" to the authorities suddenly their car that runs on water bursts into spontaneously combustion without leaving a trace.
      • kingmanic, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Honestly, can you tell reference a few instances of this happening? More often then not scientist sells out to phrama's and make a million or two. Killing the scientist is bad business.
    • jordansampson, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2http://digg.com/people/Scientists_found_the_CURE_f ...
    • RobotBuddha, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2DCA? It might still turn out to be useful, but so far it's looking like a dud.
  • bxblox, on 03/01/2008, -6/+47Bet you 50 bucks they'll try to patent the gene.

    /didnt rta
    • mbraynard, on 03/01/2008, -15/+3Which is great, because then they have an incentive to continue developing cures and to proliferate this one as quickly as possible.
      • tech42er, on 03/01/2008, -7/+6Damn you! Capitalism is just a way for selfish and greedy rich ***** to keep the rest of us poor! It never does anything positive!

        /sarcasm
        • PeppermintPig, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5Patents are anti-competitive and thus not in line with capitalism. If another group also discovers a cure associated with the gene, they would be barred from providing a 'competing' solution? If competing makes it easier to proliferate said solution with lower prices, then the only people getting harmed are those who EXPECT to profit off of a MONOPOLY control over an idea. People don't have a right to profits, scientists included.
          • mbraynard, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1Uh, patents are anti-competitive in the same way land rights are anti-competitive. How dumb can you be? Without patents, no one could make money off of anything and almost none of the drugs you see today would exist. How STUPID can you be?
          • PeppermintPig, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1Patents are a monopolistic homesteading of ideas. But ideas are nothing without action. Action involving physical property you have justly acquired cannot be considered an expense to someone else, else you're suggesting that people are entitled to the ideas AND property of others. So no, patents are not like private property.

            How did people make money before patents existed?
    • jakswa, on 03/01/2008, -4/+6exactly. the U.S. patent system is good for "motivation," but bad for humanity. companies try to patent anything and everything (even naturally occurring genetic material), making it harder for research to be done in many areas of science - since there's usually a minefield of patents preventing them from doing so without paying huge royalties.
      • kingmanic, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5RTFA it's not int he US and it's publicly funded research. Canadian publicly funded.
      • twomeyw23334, on 03/01/2008, -3/+1Are you implying "motivation" is bad for humanity?
    • fluxingtontheIV, on 03/01/2008, -2/+8the patent system is a horrible system. it is a huge damper on progress bc there will be less opportunities to advance the research. too many companies already have patented genes and just sat on them, with no progress coming from it.
      • Tyrghast, on 03/01/2008, -1/+5The patent system is most certainly not the damper on progress. The 'damper' is the goddamn Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that requires medicine's to sometimes go through up to 20 years of clinical studies before they are released. This drives the cost of the drugs up as well as allows countless numbers of people suffer in the meantime. Because of the FDA, don't expect to hear about this being released to the general public till about 2030 (at the earliest...).
        • Fhwqhgads, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2You won't hear about it at all unless the FDA and it's favorite client, Big Pharma, can make billions by patenting and selling it at monopoly prices. Otherwise it is competition and will be outlawed.
    • bitterbug, on 03/01/2008, -0/+15Canada doesn't let you patent genes, last I read about the subject.
    • oxdeltaxo, on 03/01/2008, -0/+7Some people already have the gene which means it can't be patented as it is a naturally occurring pattern.
    • daxsymbiont, on 03/01/2008, -1/+11patenting genes in unethical.

      can you imagine being asked to give back your nose because its gene is patented?

      "hey bitch, give back your nose".
    • Schmich, on 03/01/2008, -1/+1Meh, they should get compensated in some way at least.
      • plusmedic, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1How about the amazing feeling knowing that your work could potentially save millions of lives? Why is everything about profit?
    • Tyrealz, on 03/01/2008, -0/+0Just like Canadians patented Insulin?

      From Wikipedia: "Banting, Best, and colleagues (especially the chemist Collip) went on to purify the hormone insulin from bovine pancreases at the University of Toronto. This led to the availability of an effective treatment—insulin injections—and the first patient was treated in 1922. For this, Banting and laboratory director MacLeod received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923; both shared their Prize money with others in the team who were not recognized, in particular Best and Collip. Banting and Best made the patent available without charge and did not attempt to control commercial production. Insulin production and therapy rapidly spread around the world, largely as a result of this decision."

      Hopefully they don't act in a manner natural to a Pharmaceutical company, and I doubt that they will.
      • Tyrealz, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Correcting myself, they did of course patent it, however made the patent widely available, with no intention of controlling the commercial production of it, and as such, insulin is widely available now.
    • DevilInPgh, on 03/03/2008, -0/+1When was the last time you've heard of a nonprofit academic institution patenting a gene? UAlberta isn't exactly Celera Genomics, you know. If anything, the funding backers (read: the Canadian government) would hold the patent, should one ever be issued (which would be never).
    • blind51de, on 03/03/2008, -0/+0I support this if it'll lower tuition...
  • cheezintern, on 03/01/2008, -1/+6being a virus, genetics is a very logical way of combating it...hopefully something comes of it.
    • webwulf, on 03/01/2008, -2/+18Are you saying your a virus?
      • Singularitarian, on 03/01/2008, -4/+2No, he's saying genetics is a virus.
      • yodaj007, on 03/03/2008, -0/+1According to Agent Smith we're all viruses.
    • leexy, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1If by something, you mean a mutation of said virus, then yes.
  • xkorbin, on 03/01/2008, -0/+51I've only seen a thousand articles about HIV blocking enzymes and genes.
    If this is true: amazing.
  • engrishGamer, on 03/01/2008, -3/+27I'll believe it when i see it in practice. Too many people claim to have miraculous breakthrough cures that end up amounting to nothing in the end. I'm not trying to be pessimistic but...
    • CoolWind, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5They haven't even claimed to have a cure. Diggers are grossly misrepresenting what this article says. They found a gene that blocks HIV, but they don't have a way of activating it in the human body. FTA: " in the future the idea would be to develop drugs or vaccines that can mimic the effects of this gene." This is a long way from a cure, or even preventing the spread of HIV.
  • aramova, on 03/01/2008, -2/+67This is great news! We had a whole 8 days since the last amazing breakthrough cure for AIDS was posted on Digg that turns out to be vaporware.

    One of these days when the real thing hits, we'll all wonder who's been calling wolf.
    • justintsmith, on 03/01/2008, -1/+1It's actually a cure for AI-DD?
    • brettmurf, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I think this is more about how interesting it is that somewhere in our bodies lies a potential cure for AIDS. That there is basically a small switch that can take care of this virus and potentially others.
      I do think there are too many bold claims with AIDS research though, but at least there is progress.
  • jdh24, on 03/01/2008, -13/+8Breaking news: University of Alberta on lockdown, outbreak of super-rabies reported.
  • bobangitanov2, on 03/01/2008, -8/+11One word:
    *****!
  • JLecker, on 03/01/2008, -6/+54Science - 1
    Nature - 0
    Your move, Nature.
    • LucasVB, on 03/01/2008, -0/+99* Nature mutates HIV into an airborne strain
    • bthug7, on 03/01/2008, -1/+19your not counting nature's points for stopping every other aids "cure".
    • BigBallistix, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4+ The current strains of HIV have had to evolve into the way they are, due to natural immunities.
    • saxreturns, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4Life finds a way...

      /JP
    • worthone, on 03/01/2008, -1/+3Overpopulation – and all related issues thereafter – is nature's middlefinger.
    • Atheuz, on 03/01/2008, -1/+19More like
      Science - 1
      Nature - 8.047.179.294
    • jrak, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1You may recognize this comment from such posts as: 'Man vs Nature, the road to victory!' and 'Earwigs, ewww!'
  • Fragged, on 03/01/2008, -10/+2Hey look, a new way of curing HIV/Cancer/Idiocy!
  • globalcash, on 03/01/2008, -32/+0Hi,

    It is a scam the medical community has killed many people with their brutal drugs.

    Google "Aids Hoax" and you will see what I mean.

    One of the biggest scams of the century.

    The drugs do more harm then good.

    They should be ashamed of themselves.

    That is why the president of South Africa refuses to give his people these poisons.
    • Samovar, on 03/01/2008, -0/+18It's not a drug -- it's a gene.

      RTFA
      • CoolWind, on 03/01/2008, -2/+1FTA: " in the future the idea would be to develop drugs or vaccines that can mimic the effects of this gene."
    • cheezintern, on 03/01/2008, -0/+9umm.. without the current drugs available, someone with aids would die in no time. those 'terrible' drugs gives people their lives back, Researchers found a way to use a gene in the virus to prevent spreading instead of a whole cocktail of drugs. give me a break. you sound like a scientologist.
    • tech42er, on 03/01/2008, -1/+7The (current) president of South Africa is an ignorant fool who is denying lifesaving drugs to his people.
    • bthug7, on 03/01/2008, -1/+6What other conspiracies are you in on, Perhaps the one that reveals our bodies need for oxygen is a scam too. Water, yeah I figured it was a scam for years too.

      Do you go outside or are there to many conspirators out there.
    • duo8675309, on 03/01/2008, -0/+16Before I go off ranting, let me just point out that I have, HIV, and have been living with it for the past 17 years of my life. If it weren't for these "hoax drugs" of yours, I wouldn't be here typing this message. Also, if it weren't for these "hoax drugs" of yours, my viral load wouldn't be non-detectable right now. So how about you learn when to shut the ***** up and not talk about bogus ***** you obviously know nothing about. I've heard all the medical conspiracies before. Sure, corporations are corrupt, but do you really think that society would let them sacrifice billions of lives over all these years for money? You honestly think these corporate big cats are sitting there behind their desks with the cure to cancer, AIDS, diabetes, and the pee shivers in their hands and refuse to do anything about it because of the money, and the so-called "few" who know would just sit there and watch them? ***** that *****. Humanity is cruel, but not sick ***** animals (a select few excluded). I suggest you dig your head out of all this conspiracy ***** and learn what the hell perspective is.
      • PeppermintPig, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4As counterintuitive as it may sound given what we know about the forceful regulated nature of these industries, I believe those who come up with the cure will have a competitive edge over those who provide a solution for dealing with the symptoms. Either way, it should lower the cost of both products. I wouldn't completely discount the possibility that there are some sick people out there, but the laws of economics suggest that providing people with a service they want shall win out in the end... barring the meddling of those who do not respond to market forces and allow the sick people to extort their customers (ie Government).
      • RobotBuddha, on 03/01/2008, -2/+4It's always depressing to hear people talk about how people of a certain socioeconomic level are somehow less than human. It's almost the exact same line as was common 100 years back in western society talking about the poor. How they're inhuman monsters with no empathy or compassion, who plan behind their odd language to stick knives in the backs of other social classes when they least expect it. As a species, we remain depressingly welded to our tribal mindset.
  • Ostizzle, on 03/01/2008, -2/+44It seems that we hear of these "breakthrough scientific discoveries" regarding AIDS/cancer/etc. every few months yet nothing ever seems to become of them.

    I give this "discovery" two weeks until it fades into obscurity.
    • yelnatz, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5nah. its normal. it takes years to mass produce a newly discovered drug. :)
    • PeppermintPig, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4Some of it is bureaucracy, so yeah... you may die while the government claims the authority to approve the drugs.
    • Yazilliclick, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1That's because the media and the audience are pretty retarted when it comes to these things. This is a basic discovery which may or may not lead to a cure or treatment in the future. The media and the audience though bassically choose to hear it as a cure has been found, HIV is a thing of the past, all that need to be done is start mass producing the cure.
  • Berzerker7, on 03/01/2008, -1/+3Finally!
  • ghostlywind, on 03/01/2008, -1/+9If scientist make a cure for HIV with this, then they should test everyone and give free shots to all the people who have it and hopefully kill this virus once and for all.
    • bthug7, on 03/01/2008, -1/+6Hey while we're being idyllic lets assume skittles will fall from every rainbow
      • edicius, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5***** that! I hate Skittles.
      • lydecker, on 03/01/2008, -3/+3Blasphemer! Skittles are the candiest of candies!

        I love 'em. So much so that I make up words.
      • PeppermintPig, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4But can't we find a cure for those who turn everything they touch into Skittles?!? These people are suffering!
      • Lukesed, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1We've wiped out diseases before. All it takes is (1) money and (2) a drug that the virus can't develop a resistance to.
    • mutt, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2Why would you want to kill the virus? Only gay people and blacks get it anyway, so as a white male aged 18-45, I think the virus is doing this world a service.
      // kidding
      // but seriously, G8 countries will do it. the rest that cannot afford to will not without some serious aid. (pun not intended)
    • terminal157, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2If an affordable cure became available HIV would almost certainly be targeted for global irradiation by the World Health Organization, like they did with smallpox for instance.
      • jrak, on 03/02/2008, -0/+2lol, I think the word you're looking for is "eradication"
        • terminal157, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1And you would be correct.

          That was pretty bad, wasn't it?
  • lava, on 03/01/2008, -2/+94Cure it or it didn't happen.
  • scot333, on 03/01/2008, -4/+2good, that means magic johnson is safe now.
  • iNunchuk, on 03/01/2008, -0/+6anyone have the DOI of the actual scientific article? i'd like to read it....
    • RobotBuddha, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4I believe this is it. Barr SD, Smiley JR, Bushman FD (2008) The Interferon Response Inhibits HIV Particle Production by Induction of TRIM22. PLoS Pathog 4(2): e1000007. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000007
  • jdunlop2179, on 03/01/2008, -1/+3First a cure to cancer, now this!
  • bphicke, on 03/01/2008, -1/+4Time to start biologically engineering humans with this gene...
    • bthug7, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4O the implications of that statement...
  • gkniffen, on 03/01/2008, -1/+19Too little, too late for Freddie Mercury!
  • charlietuna, on 03/01/2008, -5/+46AIDS has been "cured", what.? ... 50 times already? I'll stick to beating off for now.
    • cory849, on 03/01/2008, -3/+10Oh, stop acting like it's a choice you make.
    • skyshock1, on 03/01/2008, -2/+2Magic Johnson said so.
    • ICSU, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2This stop the HIV virus. AIDS is not a virus; it's what follows the virus.
  • Weip, on 03/01/2008, -8/+2Human 1, HIV 0000000000
  • iMiXiMi, on 03/01/2008, -0/+9Edmonton!
    • Brad324, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2They're doing amazing things at U of A. First their "DCA" cancer research, and now this. Pretty amazing for huge breakthroughs in both cancer and AIDS to come from the same place.
      • xssnrg, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I am wondering why? Is it all that isolation? The West Edmonton Mall? Some amazing scientist? Recruitment program? Great Canadian wine and beer in the research lab? Smart Luck (as opposed to dumb...)? .... Proudly Canadian!
    • oxdeltaxo, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4Canadians get the job done!
    • KDyneria, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1Go oilers!
  • spyd4r, on 03/01/2008, -3/+20Time to throw away those Rubbers!
    • Deodrus, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1you can still get a girl pregnant, idiot.
      • spyd4r, on 03/03/2008, -0/+1Just get your thingy turned into the sport model!
  • iXneonXi, on 03/01/2008, -2/+90Sweet, we cured AIDs again!
    • sbgskl, on 03/01/2008, -5/+1What?
      • fajitamelt, on 03/01/2008, -0/+8He said, "Sweet, we cured AIDs again!" Try to listen the first time so we don't have to repeat ourselves, okay?
        • arcanesmile, on 03/01/2008, -1/+3What?
        • Oxymoron39, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5He said, "He said, "Sweet, we cured AIDs again!" Try to listen the first time so we don't have to repeat ourselves, okay?" Try to listen the first time so we don't have to repeat ourselves, okay?
        • corneliusJones, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2this thread wins
        • staffell, on 03/01/2008, -3/+1how do you know it's a guy?
        • ligyron, on 03/01/2008, -1/+1Everyone on the internet is a guy until proven otherwise
    • Dbeneath, on 03/01/2008, -1/+3AIDS
  • soumynona, on 03/01/2008, -1/+17I did a report on something similar in high school. Roughly 10% of Europeans are virtually immune to HIV, the theory is either the black plague or small pox boosted immunity in some and the mutation, which affects a protein called CCR5 on the surface of white blood cells, prevents HIV from entering cells and damaging the immune system.
    • isaactwito, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2So are you saying that anyone who has completely European ancestors has a 10% chance of being immune to HIV? Because that would make sense, but doesn't seem likely.
      • soumynona, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4There are other populations that show resistance or immunity to HIV but today's Europeans have the highest overall rate at 10%. Don't quote me but I think Russians had a 16% rate and Lithuania or was Sardinia had the lowest at 4%, it's been 4 years since I've done that report. it's pretty fascinating and makes sense that if your ancestors survived past epidemics you inherit particular traits.
      • jrak, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1I read somewhere there are two genes you need to have the high resistance. Having one of the genes helps you last a little longer, but you are still susceptible. There are tests for these genes, but I'm not aware of a commercially available test.

        But I'm a layperson on the subject, so I really don't know for sure.
    • nullcodes, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3The usage of CCR5 can be blocked, but unfortunately, the virus can mutate to utlize CXCR4 instead. Many people originally infected with R5 see the X4 strain emerge eventually, and this is thought to lead to AIDS symptoms. A lot of people have this X4 (aka lymphotropic) strain, so if this strain emerges as common and dominant in the world it would be a problem. Unlike CCR5, which is not very useful, CXCR4 is used for crap so that would be hard to mess with .. You can't go about blocking or shutting it off without dealing with a few consequences. Many people originally infected with R5 see the X4 strain emerge eventually, and actually some think that helps lead to AIDS symptoms.
      • willynilly, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3My girlfriend used to drive a CRX, and she's fine so far.
      • murdockat, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1I like to see somebody on Digg commenting on a science article who actually appears to understand the science behind it!
  • Yaanu, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Happy First Day of March, everyone.
    Actual reality! ACT UP! Fight AIDS!
  • sinkpoint, on 03/01/2008, -0/+3It is not a cure yet. They know that if the gene TRIM22 is turned on, the HIV virus will not be able to assemble itself.
    They still need to figure out how to it on in HIV patients.
    Even if a drug is possible, it'll still need to go through years of screening and trials before it will be approved, there won't be a magic pill in the near future in any case.
    • DevilInPgh, on 03/03/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I would like to know if this gene is activated in long-term nonprogressors (read: no drug treatment necessary, and though they are rare, they do exist) vs. progressors.
  • asaone, on 03/01/2008, -1/+6out ***** standing, Ronald Reagan must be rolling over in his grave
  • NighthawkBlack, on 03/01/2008, -12/+1Why did AIDS break out among blacks and gays in the US two years before it was ever found in Africa, right after several targeted vaccination studies? Why are African children 2-6 yrs old with 'clean' parents dying of AIDS after the UNESCO/UN convoys roll through? Having sex at 6? I think not. Why did all those little children in the Libyan hospital get AIDS from vaccines? Remember that? Like those doctors and nurses would knowingly inject them with HIV come on now. Why does the HIV bug have DNA/RNA from several animals in it, including Norweigan sheep?
    • saxreturns, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2/tinfoil hat

      There, fixed your comment.
  • wukillabee, on 03/01/2008, -0/+0theyve been coming out with a cure like every month..
  • c0re1337, on 03/01/2008, -0/+38Good news: It blocks HIV
    Bad News: It turns you into a flesh mongering zombie.
    • MadN, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2sigh....
      I really did come here to say that it was made by The Umbrella Corp.
    • BigBallistix, on 03/01/2008, -0/+6Good news: You get a free froghurt!
      Bad news: It contains potassium potassium benzoate.... that's bad.
    • TheBuz, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Oh....*****.

      Always knew AIDS would be to blame for a zombie outbreak.
    • Zergo, on 03/01/2008, -2/+1I think you mean Vampire....
  • zakbroman, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2"You can live through anything if Magic made it"
  • robbiev80, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2I hope this doesn't go the way of the supposed cure for cancer story coming from the UofA.
    My university is sure getting a lot of the spotlight in the medical field! Keep up the good work.
  • SilverBlade2k, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2Lets hope this can also be used for cancer as well..
    • DevilInPgh, on 03/03/2008, -0/+1It might. Other previous research (at doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207524) has shown TRIM22 (which is also known as Staf50) to be upregulated upon p53 activation. Thus, stimulation of white blood cells with interferon-alpha, which causes an upregulation of Staf50/TRIM22, can limit not just HIV infection, but also activate tumor suppression.
      However, I do need to let people know that this paper is not a discovery of the gene per se and its ability to inhibit HIV infection (that was already published in 2006 at doi:10.1016/j.virol.2006.07.025), but rather the mechanism by which Staf50/TRIM22 acts on HIV-infected cells. So in essence, the Digg title is slightly misleading.
  • CanuckMakem, on 03/01/2008, -2/+9Alberta FTW :)
  • cubbiesx, on 03/01/2008, -0/+5i don't get it, even if they did find the gene. is there some way to inject the gene into us and have it spread throughout our bodies? i'm not being a dick here, i really want to know.
    • nullcodes, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Everyone already has the gene, we need to find out more about why HIV infected people don't express it (enough). It is part of our defense mechanism. Normally there are things called interferons which make our cells express it.
    • Slimer, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2currently, no, or atleast it'd be arbitrarily cost prohibitive
      can algae or phages produce the protein that can then be fed to people? not too expensive, but it probably wouldn't make it's way into white blood cells in a high enough concentration, or permeate through their membrane well enough

      best solution? engineer a virus that attacks WBCs and produces the protein..
      correct me if i'm wrong
    • ComstockGordon, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1Gene transplant therapy in which the gene is placed into a virus. The virus then injects the DNA into the cell as is what viruses do and the cell carries the DNA to the nucleus and begins manufacturing the protein that the gene codes for. It seems pretty crazy but it is possible and we have successfully done the procedure before. There is a lot of work that must go into finding enzymes that can cut out the specific gene that is required and planting the gene into the virus but a skilled microbiologist could probably do it with the right tools. Lets just hope the same team that discovered this gene has the means to make it into a successful means of therapy.
    • DevilInPgh, on 03/03/2008, -0/+1It can be stimulated by IFN-a treatment.
  • sdphost, on 03/01/2008, -3/+1Digg discovers the cure for HIV/AIDS every other week.
    Move along, nothing to see.
  • unusualbob, on 03/01/2008, -1/+1I heard about this in the future, they tried to send a message back in time, but it just ended up being a south park episode that everyone thought was insightful but overall the point was ignored.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSrXRid6y1w
    • arcanesmile, on 03/01/2008, -1/+1"just one teaspoon of super aids in your butt and you're dead in three years!"
      bwahahah!!!
  • WolfDV, on 03/01/2008, -6/+5Go U of A !!! .. seems like every other week we discover another breakthough in science.
    • p0s3r, on 03/01/2008, -2/+1It's not a discovery. It's called the "Straight Gene" and we've known about it forever.
  • YuriSakazaki, on 03/01/2008, -1/+3THE CURE IS IN HER BLOOD!
    • arcanesmile, on 03/01/2008, -3/+1the cure is in chuck norris' tears
      too bad he never cries
  • staticoranges, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4Another day, another cure for HIV/AIDS on digg.
  • Dimbleby, on 03/01/2008, -4/+2WOW!!!!!!!
  • nullcodes, on 03/01/2008, -1/+5This has been known for some time .. as in for many years. I don't know why the heck this is news. It has been known for many years.

    The study does help in confirming a few things.
    • nullcodes, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2OK I actually saw the study .. so before people negative digg me I wish to quote the actual study

      http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F ...

      "We confirmed, as in previous studies, that TRIM22 over-expression inhibited HIV replication"

      If that is not enough, read the references in wikipedia on TRIM22 dating from 1995.
  • Mikhail101, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2Yay ill never have to wear a condom again

    just kidding
    • Chaoticfist, on 03/01/2008, -1/+4Seeing as your a digger there is a 90% chance you will never need one.
      • Viti, on 03/02/2008, -0/+0Unless he doesn't want a rash when he's pleasing himself?
  • jordansampson, on 03/01/2008, -1/+2I wonder if this will be as big as the time the U of A cured Cancer?
    http://digg.com/people/Scientists_found_the_CURE_f ...
  • xlar54, on 03/01/2008, -11/+1Why isnt this ALL OVER THE NEWS???? This is bigger than anything Huessein Obama could say today. Yet its hidden. I dont get it.
    • leprix, on 03/01/2008, -0/+6I hope your middle name is CulturallyRetardedAssHat so I can start calling you that.
      • xlar54, on 03/02/2008, -0/+1Why be offended that Im using his NAME? Touchy, touchy...sheesh...
    • nullcodes, on 03/01/2008, -0/+4This has been knowfor many years.

      From the article:
      http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F ...
      .
      "We confirmed, as in previous studies, that TRIM22 over-expression inhibited HIV replication"

      If that is not enough, read the references in wikipedia on TRIM22 dating from 1995.
  • pineappleguy, on 03/01/2008, -5/+3Freddy Mercury is probably pissed..O' mama mia, mama mia!
  • Amadeus2490, on 03/01/2008, -0/+2TRIM22 is apparently effective in vitro, but is it effective in vitro? Knowing the way medical research works, it'll be "20 years" before we know. One thing I DO know is that zinc finger therapy (CCR5-suppression) has already been shown to completely prevent the virus from entering cells in the body, and to quite possibly allow the body to rid itself of the virus after a certain amount of time (immune system killing it, and it's unable to hide). I doubt therapies likes this will ever become common place, as in a required vaccination before you start school, but there is alot of very interesting research being done on the disease, and scientists are learning more about the human immune system now than ever before.
    • nullcodes, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1The usage of CCR5 can be blocked, but unfortunately, the virus can mutate to utlize CXCR4 instead. A lot of people have this X4 (aka lymphotropic) strain, so if this strain emerges as spreading and dominant in the world it would be a problem. Unlike CCR5, which is not very useful, CXCR4 is used for crap so that would be hard to mess with .. You can't go about blocking or shutting it off without dealing with a few consequences. Many people originally infected with R5 see the X4 strain emerge eventually, and actually some think that helps lead to AIDS symptoms
      • Amadeus2490, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1So, if I understand correctly, different strains infect different parts of the body? Some people have HIV for 10+ years without seeing symptoms, and I heard of a few men and women who have taken no medication at all - orthodox or alternative - and they've been symptom free for 20 years. Do they have the R5 strain, and only people with X4 progress??
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