Guest guest Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Why more Africans get HIV Story by GATONYE GATHURA Publication Date: 7/18/2008 Scientists may have finally found out why HIV infection is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, than other regions of the world. American and British scientists say a gene which apparently evolved to protect people from malaria increases their vulnerability to HIV infection by 40 per cent. Africans have a variation of the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) gene which may interfere with their ability to fight HIV in its early stages. The study says the gene accounts for millions of extra HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa. Although scientists have always attributed the high incidence of HIV in Africa to differences in sexual behaviour, or that Africans are more promiscuous, they have also suspected that there may be genetic reasons to the phenomenon. The gene influences the levels of chemicals called chemokines which play a role in the body's defences against viruses, and a variation is held by approximately 90 per cent of Africans. The origins of the variation are unclear, but it is thought to have evolved in response to malaria by offering protection against that disease. The research, published on Wednesday in Cell Host & Microbe, was co- authored by Professor Robin Weiss of the UK, who worked with colleagues in the US to analyse data from a 25-year study of thousands of Americans of different ethnic backgrounds. Discussing the study with Science News Professor Weiss said: " The big message here is that something that protected against malaria in the past is now leaving the host more susceptible to HIV. " Lead author of the study, Professor Sunil K. Ahuja, from the University of Texas Health Science Center, added: " It turns out that having this variation is a double-edged sword. The finding is another valuable piece in the puzzle of HIV-Aids genetics. " HIV affects 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa today, an HIV burden greater than any other region of the world. Around 90 per cent of people in Africa carry the genetic variation. The authors observe that sexual behaviour and other social factors do not fully explain the large discrepancy in HIV prevalence in populations around the world. Dr Ade Fakoya, from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, has been quoted by BBC Online saying the findings could explain why some countries had a much higher prevalence of the disease. " There has always been this myth that people in sub-Saharan Africa were more likely to get HIV because of differences in their sexual behaviour, or that they are more promiscuous, " he said. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp? category_id=1 & newsid=127555 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2008 Report Share Posted July 17, 2008 Why more Africans get HIV Story by GATONYE GATHURA Publication Date: 7/18/2008 Scientists may have finally found out why HIV infection is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, than other regions of the world. American and British scientists say a gene which apparently evolved to protect people from malaria increases their vulnerability to HIV infection by 40 per cent. Africans have a variation of the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC) gene which may interfere with their ability to fight HIV in its early stages. The study says the gene accounts for millions of extra HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa. Although scientists have always attributed the high incidence of HIV in Africa to differences in sexual behaviour, or that Africans are more promiscuous, they have also suspected that there may be genetic reasons to the phenomenon. The gene influences the levels of chemicals called chemokines which play a role in the body's defences against viruses, and a variation is held by approximately 90 per cent of Africans. The origins of the variation are unclear, but it is thought to have evolved in response to malaria by offering protection against that disease. The research, published on Wednesday in Cell Host & Microbe, was co- authored by Professor Robin Weiss of the UK, who worked with colleagues in the US to analyse data from a 25-year study of thousands of Americans of different ethnic backgrounds. Discussing the study with Science News Professor Weiss said: " The big message here is that something that protected against malaria in the past is now leaving the host more susceptible to HIV. " Lead author of the study, Professor Sunil K. Ahuja, from the University of Texas Health Science Center, added: " It turns out that having this variation is a double-edged sword. The finding is another valuable piece in the puzzle of HIV-Aids genetics. " HIV affects 25 million people in sub-Saharan Africa today, an HIV burden greater than any other region of the world. Around 90 per cent of people in Africa carry the genetic variation. The authors observe that sexual behaviour and other social factors do not fully explain the large discrepancy in HIV prevalence in populations around the world. Dr Ade Fakoya, from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, has been quoted by BBC Online saying the findings could explain why some countries had a much higher prevalence of the disease. " There has always been this myth that people in sub-Saharan Africa were more likely to get HIV because of differences in their sexual behaviour, or that they are more promiscuous, " he said. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp? category_id=1 & newsid=127555 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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