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Study: HIV Becoming Less Deadly, Less Infectious

Posted by Soulskill on from the winning-the-long-game dept.

An anonymous reader writes: A new study (abstract) from Oxford University shows HIV is weakening as it evolves in response to our immune system. When the virus encounters somebody with a particularly strong immune system, it sacrifices efficiency in replication to gradually overcome those defenses. This causes it to take more time for the infection to cause AIDS. Professor Philip Goulder said, "It is quite striking. You can see the ability to replicate is 10% lower in Botswana than South Africa and that's quite exciting. We are observing evolution happening in front of us and it is surprising how quickly the process is happening. The virus is slowing down in its ability to cause disease and that will help contribute to elimination." Goulder added that the average time from infection to the onset of AIDS has increased by 25% over the past 10 years.

4 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Then again, maybe it _is_ good news. by AltGrendel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    From TFA: "Some virologists suggest the virus may eventually become "almost harmless" as it continues to evolve." Yes, I realize the the article says "Some" and "almost" but still I'd rather it be like dealing with a common cold than a full shutdown of my immune system.

    --
    The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination

    - Douglas Adams

    1. Re:Then again, maybe it _is_ good news. by bunratty · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Mostly harmless!?

      --
      What a fool believes, he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.
  2. Re:Evolution? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So far more than half the comments are as fucking stupid as this. I don't know why I even bother reading here anymore.

  3. Re:Raining on the parade by CrankyFool · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Over the long term, you're going to die anyway.

    If HIV becomes the sort of virus that basically will take decades and decades to kill you (with lots of medicine, it pretty much is already that, except that in a lot of countries you don't get "lots of medicine"), then its relevance to your lifespan decreases.

    There's a form of prostate cancer that develops so slowly that if you're old enough when you get it, it's considered quite reasonable to not even treat it, but rather monitor it to make sure it continues to develop slowly.