Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International; 1510 H St. N.W. Washington DC 20005 Main Phone Switchboard : 202-898-8000 FAX : 202-898-8057 or 202-898-8147 E-mail us: info@upi.com - Monday, 31 October 1988.
Doctors have suspected hepatitis B virus, or HBV, may play a role in how fast AIDS progresses, observing that about 90 percent of homosexual men and intravenous drug users with AIDS have at one time been infected with HBV.
However, the exact link between the two diseases has been hard to determine because both viruses are spread by sexual and blood-to-blood contact, such as the sharing of needles among intravenous drug users. University of California-San Francisco researchers now say they have discovered the first evidence of HBV acting directly on the AIDS virus.
The researchers announced their test-tube studies show a protein produced by HBV, called "X protein," can activate genes in the AIDS virus that could prompt the virus to replicate faster.
"Although clinical studies need to be done, these observations could explain the high correlation between HBV infection and AIDS, and have implications for the treatment and prevention of AIDS," reported the researchers, whose study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
People infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome, might not develop symptoms of full-blown AIDS for eight to 10 years. The average incubation period is about six years, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.
Scientists have theorized that after initial infection, the virus may lie latent until triggered by other infectious agents.
Dr. T.S. Benedict Yen, who headed the research team, said work is under way "to determine if vaccination against HBV may be advisable for those in high risk groups for AIDS."
A 1983 study found homosexual men vaccinated against HBV had a lower rate of AIDS than non-vaccinated homosexual men, Yen said.
Copyright (c) 1988/UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, UPI, 1510 H St. N.W. Washington DC 20005.
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