Some of us are immune to HIV

[coriolis888]

I am puzzled why I have never seen, in any gay forum or gay news reports, the fact that there is a certain group of people who are lacking a specific gene that prevents them from becoming infected with HIV. 

These people can have sex with thousands of HIV positive people and never get infected with HIV because of the lack of a certain gene that prevents HIV from infecting them.  

When HIV was raging before and into 1995, there was no HIV medication that prevented most HIV patients from dying.  Several of my friends died from HIV in 1995 and prior. 

About that time, the CDC and other reliable medical sources (Medical schools)  wrote articles about a lab test that would let a person know if they lacked a specific HIV gene receptor ( CCR5-Δ32 mutation). 

Most who lack the HIV receptor gene were Northern European, however, some were not.

A friend and I hunted for various articles written about the lacking receptor gene.  We also hunted for a lab that administered the test to see if we lacked the HIV gene receptor.   You can find labs on the internet that administer this test.  Some labs require a doctor's prescription while some do not.  

Happily, my friend and I found a lab and took the test.  It was determined that we lack the HIV receptor.   

Needless to say, we were pleased that we could never become infected with HIV. 

We are not completely Northern Europeans.  We are a mixture of Northern European and a bit of Southern Europe.   

If you are concerned about being infected with HIV, you might consider taking that test to see if you lack the receptor.  

For convenience, next is a copy of a response that I got from the internet about the receptor.   

Yes, a small but significant number of people lack a specific gene mutation, the CCR5-Δ32 mutationCCR5-Δ32 mutation mutation, which prevents HIV from infecting their cells, making them naturally resistant to the virus. This genetic variation, more common in Northern European populations, results in the absence of the CCR5 co-receptor that HIV uses to enter CD4+ T cells. Individuals with this mutation, even when exposed to HIV, cannot become infected with the virus. 

AND

 

CCR5 Δ32 Mutation

The CCR5 Δ32 mutation is a deletion of 32 base pairs in the CCR5 gene, which encodes a protein called the chemokine receptor 5. This mutation is found primarily in people of European descent. 

 

Function and Significance:

• HIV Resistance:

  The CCR5 protein is used by HIV to enter cells. The Δ32 mutation prevents HIV from binding to and entering cells, making individuals homozygous for this mutation (carrying two copies of the mutated gene) resistant to HIV infection. 

   
• Other

[+ PhileasFogg]

The prevalence of this gene mutation is quite small, right?

[hungry4darkmeat]

58 minutes ago, PhileasFogg said:

The prevalence of this gene mutation is quite small, right?

It is but there are a lot more who have the mutation on one side and are resistant 

[+ FrankR]

3 hours ago, coriolis888 said:

I am puzzled why I have never seen, in any gay forum or gay news reports, the fact that there is a certain group of people who are lacking a specific gene that prevents them from becoming infected with HIV. 

These people can have sex with thousands of HIV positive people and never get infected with HIV because of the lack of a certain gene that prevents HIV from infecting them.  

When HIV was raging before and into 1995, there was no HIV medication that prevented most HIV patients from dying.  Several of my friends died from HIV in 1995 and prior. 

About that time, the CDC and other reliable medical sources (Medical schools)  wrote articles about a lab test that would let a person know if they lacked a specific HIV gene receptor ( CCR5-Δ32 mutation). 

Most who lack the HIV receptor gene were Northern European, however, some were not.

A friend and I hunted for various articles written about the lacking receptor gene.  We also hunted for a lab that administered the test to see if we lacked the HIV gene receptor.   You can find labs on the internet that administer this test.  Some labs require a doctor's prescription while some do not.  

Happily, my friend and I found a lab and took the test.  It was determined that we lack the HIV receptor.   

Needless to say, we were pleased that we could never become infected with HIV. 

We are not completely Northern Europeans.  We are a mixture of Northern European and a bit of Southern Europe.   

If you are concerned about being infected with HIV, you might consider taking that test to see if you lack the receptor.  

For convenience, next is a copy of a response that I got from the internet about the receptor.   

Yes, a small but significant number of people lack a specific gene mutation, the CCR5-Δ32 mutationCCR5-Δ32 mutation mutation, which prevents HIV from infecting their cells, making them naturally resistant to the virus. This genetic variation, more common in Northern European populations, results in the absence of the CCR5 co-receptor that HIV uses to enter CD4+ T cells. Individuals with this mutation, even when exposed to HIV, cannot become infected with the virus. 

AND

 

CCR5 Δ32 Mutation

The CCR5 Δ32 mutation is a deletion of 32 base pairs in the CCR5 gene, which encodes a protein called the chemokine receptor 5. This mutation is found primarily in people of European descent. 

 

Function and Significance:

• HIV Resistance:

  The CCR5 protein is used by HIV to enter cells. The Δ32 mutation prevents HIV from binding to and entering cells, making individuals homozygous for this mutation (carrying two copies of the mutated gene) resistant to HIV infection. 

   
• Other

Can you share the details of the lab you used?  

[BuffaloKyle]

Innate resistance to HIV - Wikipedia

EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

 

[jeezifonly]

The huge array of factors among individuals in how the immune system responds to viral invasion is always being studied. Self-reporting on family histories likely impacts accuracy, especially with this virus.

Although, if pediatric brain cancer can be on the research chopping block, we're never sure that HIV/AIDS will have continued funding as more smart questions about natural resistance come forward. I've been poz for 40yrs now, on effective meds (including a number of clinical trials in the 90's that led to the "cocktail" that made the difference for thousands of us) and whether it's been Rx intervention, genetic predisposition, or being breast-fed, or whatever... the load is undetectable, T4 high, I never had an opportunistic infection or facial wasting. My doc has no particular explanation for my personal success living with it. 

The Fuckin' Lucky Club may hold the only answer. 

 

[coriolis888]

2 hours ago, jeezifonly said:

The huge array of factors among individuals in how the immune system responds to viral invasion is always being studied. Self-reporting on family histories likely impacts accuracy, especially with this virus.

Although, if pediatric brain cancer can be on the research chopping block, we're never sure that HIV/AIDS will have continued funding as more smart questions about natural resistance come forward. I've been poz for 40yrs now, on effective meds (including a number of clinical trials in the 90's that led to the "cocktail" that made the difference for thousands of us) and whether it's been Rx intervention, genetic predisposition, or being breast-fed, or whatever... the load is undetectable, T4 high, I never had an opportunistic infection or facial wasting. My doc has no particular explanation for my personal success living with it. 

The Fuckin' Lucky Club may hold the only answer. 

 

Even though you had the misfortune to have become positive, you have a remarkable attitude about it. 

It was in 1995 that the medications became available to keep HIV positive people from dying.  My two friends who died did so in 1995, just two months before the cocktail was released that kept HIV victims alive.   If nature had just a little patience,  my two friends might still be here.  

As to funding, J. F. K. Junior is in charge of America's health system.  However, he is not a physician and has had no medical training.  He already announced that he is going to cut the funding for research into HIV (and other diseases) and stop further research for vaccines.     

Forgetting Kennedy, if anyone is interested in taking that HIV resistance test, many labs offer the test.  You can check the internet for labs in your area.  

 

[coriolis888]

11 hours ago, FrankR said:

Can you share the details of the lab you used?  

It was back in 1995 and I do not recall the name of the lab.  You can easily find a lab if you search the internet.  

[jeezifonly]

I live in LA and had the good fortune to get in early with a gay-owned Medical practice at the forefront of latest treatments, was in clinical trials thru them for 3 different Protease Inhibitors before the first was approved. Early intervention is key, and genotyping continues to improve, and insurance-covered access probably depends on the commitment of your doctor to turn a blood draw into a plan of attack after a couple of tests confirm presence of the virus. 

On behalf those of us old tarts remaining, who were still unabashed in our pleasure-pursuits in the early 80's we salute the scientists and activists and caregivers who fought an uphill battle to keep us alive.

Prevention is still best.