Critical HIV genes found

Scientists working in South Africa say they have identified a gene that controls the human body’s response to HIV.

The researchers say the gene determines the body’s response to infections.The study published in the journal Nature helps to explain why some people have a natural resistance to the virus.Phillip Goulder, who led the study, says identifying the genes takes researchers a step closer to finding a vaccine for HIV.”The starting point for making a vaccine is to find out what the problem is, in what areas is the immune response being successful in controlling a virus,” he said.”The next step is to understand the detail of why these genes are good for you, or bad for you.”Then subsequently that’ll tell us what to include or to exclude.”In order to make the vaccine, we need to understand what to put into it first.”(Source: Nature, BBC Health, Reuters Health, December 2004)