Science: The super mutation of HIV virus doubles the speed of the AIDS process

As we all know, HIV ( HIV ) is a retrovirus that can attack the human immune system.
It will attack and destroy the most important CD4+ T lymphocytes in the human immune system in large numbers, so that the patient will have an incubation period of several years or even more than 10 years.
Later develop into AIDS ( AIDS ) patients, and eventually lose immune function
.

As we all know, HIV ( HIV ) is a retrovirus that can attack the human immune system, it will attack and destroy the most important immune CD4+ T lymphocytes in the human immune system in large numbers, so that the patient will experience several years, or even more than 10 years.
After the incubation period develops into AIDS ( AIDS ) patients, and eventually loses immune function
.

HIV ( HIV ) is divided into two main types, HIV-1 and HIV-2
.

The former is more virulent, infecting the vast majority of cases worldwide

HIV ( HIV ) is divided into two main types, HIV-1 and HIV-2

In the early morning of February 4th, Beijing time, in a new study published in Science , a large international research team led by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom discovered a more aggressive variant of HIV in the Netherlands, which is similar to the original HIV-1 strain.
It enables infected individuals to develop AIDS at twice the rate of the virus strain (Figure 1 ) .

Figure 1 Research results (Source: Science )

Figure 1 Research results (Source: Science )

The researchers stress that because the new HIV variant is more virulent, it can be fatal if not detected early
.

This more virulent and faster-spreading strain is named HIV-1 subtype virus ( VB )

The researchers stress that because the new HIV variant is more virulent, it can be fatal if not detected early

In the new study, the researchers investigated the Linking HIV Epidemiology and Evolution in Europe project ( BEEHIVE ) , an ongoing project aimed at uncovering the relationship between the HIV genome and disease severity

Through further analysis, the researchers found that patients infected with VB had a viral load that was 3.
5 to 5.
5 times higher than the original HIV-1 strain .

Figure 2Research results (Source: Science )

Figure 2Research results (Source: Science )

Human immune systems infected with the VB variant had a rapid reduction in CD4+ T cells twice as fast as the original strain .

When patients are diagnosed with a variant strain of VB , they can easily develop full-blown AIDS within two to three years .
All of these mutant strains spread from person to person in the same way, such as unprotected sex and needle sharing .

Human immune systems infected with the VB variant had a rapid reduction in CD4+ T cells twice as fast as the original strain .
When patients are diagnosed with the diagnostic VB variant strain, they can easily develop full-blown AIDS within two to three years .
All of these mutant strains spread from person to person in the same way, such as unprotected sex and needle sharing .
This suggests that VB would spread faster and be more contagious than HIV-1 strains .

In addition, patients infected with VB displayed characteristics typical of other HIV -infected persons in the Netherlands , including age, sex, and mode of transmission .

This suggests that the increased infectivity of the virus is due to the properties of the virus itself, rather than the different behavior of virus carriers .
Analysis of inheritance patterns showed that the VB variant developed in the Netherlands in the early 1990s, and by 2000 it spread faster than other variants, but since 2010 cases of VB infection have been increasing.
decrease .
This may mean that VB does not appear to be a public health crisis (Figure 3 ) .

In addition, patients infected with VB displayed characteristics typical of other HIV -infected persons in the Netherlands , including age, sex, and mode of transmission .
This suggests that the increased infectivity of the virus is due to the properties of the virus itself, rather than the different behavior of virus carriers .
Analysis of inheritance patterns showed that the VB variant developed in the Netherlands in the early 1990s, and by 2000 it spread faster than other variants, but since 2010 cases of VB infection have been increasing.
decrease .
This may mean that VB does not appear to be a public health crisis (Figure 3 ) .

Figure 3  Research results (Source: Science )

Figure 3  Research results (Source: Science )

Lead author Dr Chris Wymant , from the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Research at the University of Oxford , said: " Before this study, it was known that the genetics of HIV is linked to virulence, which means that the evolution of new mutant strains may would alter its effects on human health
.

The emergence of VB mutant strains demonstrates this, providing a rare example of the risks posed by the evolution of viral virulence

Lead author Dr Chris Wymant , from the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Research at the University of Oxford , said: " Before this study, it was known that the genetics of HIV is linked to virulence, which means that the evolution of new mutant strains may would alter its effects on human health

Corresponding author Professor Christophe Fraser , Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics at the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, said: " Our findings underscore the importance of WHO guidelines that individuals at risk of contracting HIV should be regularly tested for Early diagnosis and treatment as soon as the virus is detected limits the time HIV can damage an individual’s immune system and compromise their health .
This also ensures that HIV is suppressed as quickly as possible, preventing transmission to other individuals .
”

Despite widespread treatment and HIV hype, the VB variant has emerged, and it could have implications for drugs that were previously effective at inhibiting the virus' spread, the authors say
.

Reassuringly, after initiation of treatment, immune system recovery and viral survival were similar to those involving other HIV strains
.
However, the researchers stress that VB causes a more rapid weakening of the immune system, making it critical for individuals to receive early diagnosis and treatment after infection
.
Further studies to understand these mechanisms could reveal new targets for the next generation of antiretroviral drugs
.

Despite widespread treatment and HIV hype, the VB variant has emerged, and it could have implications for drugs that were previously effective at inhibiting the virus' spread, the authors say
.
Reassuringly, after initiation of treatment, immune system recovery and viral survival were similar to those involving other HIV strains
.
However, the researchers stress that VB causes a more rapid weakening of the immune system, making it critical for individuals to receive early diagnosis and treatment after infection
.
Further studies to understand these mechanisms could reveal new targets for the next generation of antiretroviral drugs
.

The researchers also noted that VB displayed many mutations throughout its genome
.
A single genetic cause is unclear at this stage
.
Professor Joel Wertheim of the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the study, said there should be no panic
.

The researchers also noted that VB displayed many mutations throughout its genome
.
A single genetic cause is unclear at this stage
.
Professor Joel Wertheim of the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the study, said there should be no panic
.

Figure 4  Research results (Source: Science )

Figure 4  Research results (Source: Science )

He wrote in a concurrent Opinion article: "The observation that a more virulent and contagious mutant strain emerges does not represent a public health crisis
.
Let us not forget the overreaction to ' Super AIDS ' in 2005 , when in New York Rapidly progressive, multidrug-resistant HIV infections were discovered, but those turned out to be isolated cases .
”

He wrote in a concurrent Opinion article: "The observation that a more virulent and contagious mutant strain emerges does not represent a public health crisis
.
Let us not forget the overreaction to ' Super AIDS ' in 2005 , when in New York Rapidly progressive, multidrug-resistant HIV infections were discovered, but those turned out to be isolated cases .
”

References:

References:

[1]Wymant C, Bezemer D, Blanquart F, et al.
A highly virulent variant of HIV-1 circulating in the Netherlands.
Science.
2022 Feb 4;375(6580):540-545.
doi: 10.
1126/science.
abk1688 .
Epub 2022 Feb 3.
PMID: 35113714.

[1]Wymant C, Bezemer D, Blanquart F, et al.
A highly virulent variant of HIV-1 circulating in the Netherlands.
Science.
2022 Feb 4;375(6580):540-545.
doi: 10.
1126/science.
abk1688 .
Epub 2022 Feb 3.
PMID: 35113714.
Leave a comment here