Rod, at 12:47 on May 29 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

BG> I thought that apart from that small group of HIV-resistant
BG> women in Africa, once you were infected with HIV, you
BG> invariably died, albeit as much as 10 years later.

RS> That true of dying of AIDS *AFTER* you have sero converted.
RS> That is indeed 100%, no exceptions whatever, even in africa.

True, given that almost everybody with HIV eventually sero converts, I have
a habit of considering HIV and AIDS to be the same thing, even though
they're clearly not.  You know, living language, common usage and all that.

RS> There are however some people who have got infected with a mutated
RS> form of HIV which never sero convert and so dont ever die of it.

As HIV no longer appears to be the flavour of the month, there has been
little info about these African prostitutes lately, but I seem to recall
that there were only a small group, maybe 7 or 8 of them, and all from the
same town.  I would presume though that they are still being thoroughly
investigated.

RS> There has in fact been a strain of HIV found here too
RS> which looks like it may well be useful as an HIV vaccine etc.

Pass, thanks all the same.  Some kids still die from adverse reactions to
even simple vaccinations such as diphtheria, whooping cough, and even
polio, so while I'm zero risk of contracting HIV (and I can't see that
changing any day soon), they can shove their HIV vaccine right up their
collective arses.

RS> Main problem is that it shows positive on HIV tests.

Charming.

BG> What about Ebola though, isn't that near 100% fatal as well?

RS> Yeah, its one of the most virulent but its still not 100%
RS> And a LOT less than 100% get infected when its around too.

Mind you, Ebola certainly appears to be a HELL of a lot easier to contract
than HIV, given the numerous routes of infection possible.  There's no need
to exchange blood or other serum-carrying bodily fluids with Ebola.

BG> True, it'll be interesting if they manage to
BG> find out why those women are immune to HIV too.

RS> Its a different strain which produces that. Strain of HIV. HIV is rather 
RS> easy to work the DNA out with, thats what determines the strain, the DNA 
RS> sequence.

I'd have expected scores of different strains by now though.  Why is it
that HIV appears not to mutate as frequently or as quickly as most other
viruses?

Regards, Bill
@EOT:

--- MsgedSQ/2 3.30