echemi logo
Product
  • Product
  • Supplier
  • Inquiry
    Home > Biochemistry News > Microbiology News > Highly virulent variant of HIV discovered in the Netherlands|Science Weekly Featured

    Highly virulent variant of HIV discovered in the Netherlands|Science Weekly Featured

    • Last Update: 2022-03-08
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
    Search more information of high quality chemicals, good prices and reliable suppliers, visit www.echemi.com
    Click on the blue text above to follow us Researchers report that a highly virulent variant of HIV-1 has been circulating in the Netherlands for the past few decades
    .

    According to the new study, a group of more than 100 people infected with the virus subtype showed abnormally high viral loads, rapid decline in their CD4+ T cells, and increased infectivity of the virus subtype
    .

    While these findings suggest that this HIV lineage may have emerged at the turn of the millennium, widespread changes in its genome make it difficult to see the mechanisms underlying its increased virulence
    .

    Monitoring the virulence of HIV is an important task, as some 38 million people are currently infected with the virus
    .

    However, beyond recent studies of SARS-CoV-2 variants, there is a lack of understanding of the evolution of viral virulence beyond theoretical analysis
    .

    In the ongoing BEEHIVE project (Bridging HIV Epidemiology and Evolution in Europe), Chris Wymant and colleagues found that more than 100 people carry a distinct strain of HIV-1B subtype (known as the "VB variant") , which were characterized by high viral loads and nearly double the rate of CD4 cell decay compared with those infected with other HIV subtype B strains
    .

    According to Wymant et al.
    , by the time these individuals are diagnosed, they can easily develop AIDS within 2 to 3 years
    .

    Further analysis of the VB variant revealed major changes throughout its genome, affecting nearly 300 amino acids, making it difficult to understand why this particular variant is so virulent
    .

    "The emergence of more virulent and contagious HIV is observed, not a public health crisis," writes Joel Wertheim in a Perspective, which discusses how and why the virus' virulence has evolved
    .

    "Let's not forget the overreaction brought about by the 'super AIDS' claim in 2005, when the discovery in New York of a fast-growing, multidrug-resistant HIV infection caused panic, but the infection was ultimately seen in only one person.
    .
    .
    " Wertheim The article concludes with a discussion of how Wymant and colleagues' findings relate to the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virulence
    .

    Welcome to the official public account of Science and click "Read the original text" below to access the English original text for this issue of Science to light up your reading!
    This article is an English version of an article which is originally in the Chinese language on echemi.com and is provided for information purposes only. This website makes no representation or warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness ownership or reliability of the article or any translations thereof. If you have any concerns or complaints relating to the article, please send an email, providing a detailed description of the concern or complaint, to service@echemi.com. A staff member will contact you within 5 working days. Once verified, infringing content will be removed immediately.

    Contact Us

    The source of this page with content of products and services is from Internet, which doesn't represent ECHEMI's opinion. If you have any queries, please write to service@echemi.com. It will be replied within 5 days.

    Moreover, if you find any instances of plagiarism from the page, please send email to service@echemi.com with relevant evidence.