African malaria gene increases HIV risk

1069 · 07-18-08, 08:08 PM

African malaria gene increases HIV risk'

Susanna Woods
IMC Commercial and Business News
Friday, 18 July 2008

Researchers have discovered that people of African descent commonly carry a genetic variation that protects them against malaria, which in turn makes them up to 40% more susceptible to HIV/AIDS infection – proving that sexual behaviour and social factors are not the only explanations for the spread of the disease.

The 22-year study also revealed that those carrying the gene, who are also HIV-positive, have a survival rate two years higher than those without the gene because it causes AIDS to develop more slowly.

It is all down to a gene called the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC), which influences the levels of inflammatory and chemokines, anti-HIV blood factors.

Professor Robin Weiss, from the University College London (UCL), is a leading international authority on HIV and AIDS, and co-author of the study. He explained the significance of the DARC gene: “In sub-Saharan Africa, the vast majority of people do not express DARC on their red blood cells and previous research has shown that this variation seems to have evolved to protect against a particular form of malaria. However, this protective effect actually leaves those with the variation more susceptible to HIV.”

>snip<
It is estimated that the gene variation may be responsible for around 11% of HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa, where as many as 25 million people are infected. However, according to the UN’s Roll Back Malaria partnership, there are 300 million severe cases of malaria every year around the world, of which 90% are reported in Africa.

link

Well, whatdoyaknow?
Turns out they may not all be a bunch of immoral sexual degenerates over there in subsaharan Africa. Turns out there may be a alternate explanation for why Africa's been decimated by AIDS.

I actually believed something similar already, having read a very convincing premise put forth about a decade ago, which proposed that those of European descent might have some genetic protection from HIV because most of us are descended from survivors of Bubonic (or "Black") Plague, which ravaged Europe on and off for the better part of three centuries, and which had about a 50-60% fatality rate (not to be confused with the Pneumonic Plague, which had a nearly 100% fatality rate).
The Plague never made significant inroads into Africa, which explained- according to this theory- why Africans were more susceptible to HIV.

I somehow put this idea together with the fact that people of African descent
are more susceptible to sickle-cell anemia because of a gene mutation that affords them some protection against malaria, and that made more sense to me than the popular idea that one in four subsaharan Africans is infected with AIDS because of their behavior, while fewer than one in two hundred Americans is, because of our behavior. It's hard to imagine that Africans routinely engage in behavior that is fifty times riskier than that of Americans.
It's obviously in their genes, and ours, and nobody's fault.

Southern Belle · 07-19-08, 03:52 PM

Actually it's both their behaviour and the gene. If they behaved better there would be no HIV for them to have the higher risk of getting (save for a blood transfusion or eating monkey brains or something). It may not be PC but it is the truth. Ideally since it's an epidemic, they need to just quit or it's just gonna keep killing them and spreading. It's sad, but that's what happens and probably (JIMO) the very reason that God said anything except between a married man and woman is sinful, because it causes horrible STDs and ruins societies and causes not only trouble for them, but also trouble for the countries like the US who have to take care of them.

Of course, nobody's gonna think about all the stuff I figured out, and they're just gonna keep on, because it's human nature, but I'm just saying. Just don't be witth 100 people and then have your partner be with 100 people and then meet some oneone who's been with 100 people including somebody who you were also with. It makes deseases, some fatal, and makes trouble for any kids and a whole bunch of people, and all their lives are made harder.

I'm just saying. But can anybody argue?

jallman · 07-19-08, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1069

African malaria gene increases HIV risk'

Susanna Woods
IMC Commercial and Business News
Friday, 18 July 2008

Researchers have discovered that people of African descent commonly carry a genetic variation that protects them against malaria, which in turn makes them up to 40% more susceptible to HIV/AIDS infection – proving that sexual behaviour and social factors are not the only explanations for the spread of the disease.

The 22-year study also revealed that those carrying the gene, who are also HIV-positive, have a survival rate two years higher than those without the gene because it causes AIDS to develop more slowly.

It is all down to a gene called the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC), which influences the levels of inflammatory and chemokines, anti-HIV blood factors.

Professor Robin Weiss, from the University College London (UCL), is a leading international authority on HIV and AIDS, and co-author of the study. He explained the significance of the DARC gene: “In sub-Saharan Africa, the vast majority of people do not express DARC on their red blood cells and previous research has shown that this variation seems to have evolved to protect against a particular form of malaria. However, this protective effect actually leaves those with the variation more susceptible to HIV.”

>snip<
It is estimated that the gene variation may be responsible for around 11% of HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa, where as many as 25 million people are infected. However, according to the UN’s Roll Back Malaria partnership, there are 300 million severe cases of malaria every year around the world, of which 90% are reported in Africa.

link

Well, whatdoyaknow?
Turns out they may not all be a bunch of immoral sexual degenerates over there in subsaharan Africa. Turns out there may be a alternate explanation for why Africa's been decimated by AIDS.

I actually believed something similar already, having read a very convincing premise put forth about a decade ago, which proposed that those of European descent might have some genetic protection from HIV because most of us are descended from survivors of Bubonic (or "Black") Plague, which ravaged Europe on and off for the better part of three centuries, and which had about a 50-60% fatality rate (not to be confused with the Pneumonic Plague, which had a nearly 100% fatality rate).
The Plague never made significant inroads into Africa, which explained- according to this theory- why Africans were more susceptible to HIV.

I somehow put this idea together with the fact that people of African descent
are more susceptible to sickle-cell anemia because of a gene mutation that affords them some protection against malaria, and that made more sense to me than the popular idea that one in four subsaharan Africans is infected with AIDS because of their behavior, while fewer than one in two hundred Americans is, because of our behavior. It's hard to imagine that Africans routinely engage in behavior that is fifty times riskier than that of Americans.
It's obviously in their genes, and ours, and nobody's fault.

All well and good but it does nothing to detract from the fact that AIDS is STILL spread by exchange of bodily fluids. Unsafe sex is still the reason HIV is spread among Africans. Now it's just more important that they are educated about safe sex practices and begin to put that to use.

Southern Belle · 07-19-08, 04:07 PM

I forgot all about being safe, although I still believe you just need to be with 1 person (ideally) but I just remembered this dumb comercial about someone not wanting to spread their desease to their girlfriend, but the best way to not give it to her is to not put her in the position to get it. Oh well...

DarkWizard12 · 07-19-08, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1069

African malaria gene increases HIV risk'

Susanna Woods
IMC Commercial and Business News
Friday, 18 July 2008

Researchers have discovered that people of African descent commonly carry a genetic variation that protects them against malaria, which in turn makes them up to 40% more susceptible to HIV/AIDS infection – proving that sexual behaviour and social factors are not the only explanations for the spread of the disease.

The 22-year study also revealed that those carrying the gene, who are also HIV-positive, have a survival rate two years higher than those without the gene because it causes AIDS to develop more slowly.

It is all down to a gene called the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC), which influences the levels of inflammatory and chemokines, anti-HIV blood factors.

Professor Robin Weiss, from the University College London (UCL), is a leading international authority on HIV and AIDS, and co-author of the study. He explained the significance of the DARC gene: “In sub-Saharan Africa, the vast majority of people do not express DARC on their red blood cells and previous research has shown that this variation seems to have evolved to protect against a particular form of malaria. However, this protective effect actually leaves those with the variation more susceptible to HIV.”

>snip<
It is estimated that the gene variation may be responsible for around 11% of HIV cases in sub-Saharan Africa, where as many as 25 million people are infected. However, according to the UN’s Roll Back Malaria partnership, there are 300 million severe cases of malaria every year around the world, of which 90% are reported in Africa.

link

Well, whatdoyaknow?
Turns out they may not all be a bunch of immoral sexual degenerates over there in subsaharan Africa. Turns out there may be a alternate explanation for why Africa's been decimated by AIDS.

I actually believed something similar already, having read a very convincing premise put forth about a decade ago, which proposed that those of European descent might have some genetic protection from HIV because most of us are descended from survivors of Bubonic (or "Black") Plague, which ravaged Europe on and off for the better part of three centuries, and which had about a 50-60% fatality rate (not to be confused with the Pneumonic Plague, which had a nearly 100% fatality rate).
The Plague never made significant inroads into Africa, which explained- according to this theory- why Africans were more susceptible to HIV.

I somehow put this idea together with the fact that people of African descent
are more susceptible to sickle-cell anemia because of a gene mutation that affords them some protection against malaria, and that made more sense to me than the popular idea that one in four subsaharan Africans is infected with AIDS because of their behavior, while fewer than one in two hundred Americans is, because of our behavior. It's hard to imagine that Africans routinely engage in behavior that is fifty times riskier than that of Americans.
It's obviously in their genes, and ours, and nobody's fault.

nobody's fault? .... I just can't take you seriously anymore.

The fact that they have this gene should make them extra cautious about sex, not extra careless!

1069 · 07-19-08, 05:14 PM

Quote:

nobody's fault? .... I just can't take you seriously anymore.

Dude... who are you?

Why do you keep following me from thread to thread, posting that you can't take me seriously "anymore"?
Do I know you from somewhere?

I've never seen or heard of you before in my life, ergo your seriousness- or lack thereof- on the topic of *me*, is scarcely relevant, and all you're doing is wasting Vauge's bandwidth.

Despite your purported lack of seriousness, however, you really, really, really seem to want me to play with you.
So here: fetch.

/ throws stick into traffic.