Genetic Link Seen in HIV Immunity

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Genetic Link Seen in HIV Immunity

Toronto Globe and Mail (Canada) (10/20/93) P. A15

A Canadian-Kenyan research team has been studying a small group of prostitutes in Nairobi who appear to be naturally immune to the AIDS virus. After eight years, the scientists may have discovered a genetic link to explain why. They estimate that one in five clients soliciting the prostitutes is infected with HIV, and the general level of adult infection is about 60 percent. Among the prostitutes, the rate is between 85 and 95 percent. Twenty-five of these commercial sex workers, however, have avoided infection for at least five years, and not because of more frequent condom use, claims head researcher Dr. Frank Plummer. "It's not something about sexual behavior, and it's not because HIV infection cannot be established in their cells--we've been able to do that in a lab," explains Plummer. "So we're left to speculate that it's because they're immune to HIV." He adds that there are important implications if so. Researchers think the key lies in genetic markers on cell surfaces called HLAs, which are common to all 25 women. HLAs help the immune system recognize the difference between a body's own cells and those of invaders. Plummer says that when the scientists isolate which types of HLAs protect against HIV, hopefully they can duplicate that immunity in a lab, and advance toward an AIDS vaccine. The Nairobi prostitutes are not the only group to support the theory of natural immunity. Professor Keith McAdam of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says another good example is hemophiliac men who have not infected their wives.

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