Some people, although only a few, are naturally immune to the HIV-1. HIV-1 is responsible for the AIDS epidemic that has swept the world. While scientists and physicians were aware that some people were naturally immune to HIV and therefore could not get AIDS, no one knew why until Eric Refsland and Reuben Harris of the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences and Medical School discovered why.
The difference in people that are immune to HIV was found to be a difference in the amount of one type of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3) produced by the T lymphocytes. The particular type of APOBEC3 called APOBEC3H was found to be more prevalent in people that were immune to the HIV virus. APOBEC3H stops HIV from reproducing.
HIV is a Darwinian marvel. The virus wants to stay alive. The virus changes to fight the innate immune response by the T lymphocytes and actually makes the protein-enzyme defense mechanism attack the T lymphocytes and kill them. People that have a type of APOBEC3H that is more potent in defending the body from HIV have immunity to the disease.
The research offers the best chance for a cure for HIV and AIDS to date. The researchers propose developing a drug that does not allow HIV to cause the T lymphocytes to kill themselves. Stopping HIV from being able to replicate itself in the host cell is an effective cure for HIV and AIDS.
