Comments on: Presence Of Gene Mutation May Provide HIV Immunity And Resistance http://www.aidsbeacon.com/news/2009/10/27/presence-of-gene-mutation-may-provide-hiv-1-immunity-and-resistance/ Independent, up-to-date news and information about HIV and AIDS. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:16:14 +0000 hourly 1 By: Courtney McQueen http://www.aidsbeacon.com/news/2009/10/27/presence-of-gene-mutation-may-provide-hiv-1-immunity-and-resistance/comment-page-1/#comment-280 Courtney McQueen Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:36:28 +0000 http://www.aidsbeacon.com/?p=8745#comment-280 Daryll, It sounds as though members of your family may fall into the category of long-term nonprogressors, also called elite controllers. You may be interested in the Zephyr Foundation, which tracks research related to this phenomenon and also gives members information on joining clinical trials. Their Web site is here: http://www.zephyrfoundation.org/ Best regards, Courtney McQueen Managing Editor, AIDS Beacon Daryll,

It sounds as though members of your family may fall into the category of long-term nonprogressors, also called elite controllers. You may be interested in the Zephyr Foundation, which tracks research related to this phenomenon and also gives members information on joining clinical trials. Their Web site is here:

http://www.zephyrfoundation.org/

Best regards,
Courtney McQueen
Managing Editor, AIDS Beacon

]]> By: Daryll Smith http://www.aidsbeacon.com/news/2009/10/27/presence-of-gene-mutation-may-provide-hiv-1-immunity-and-resistance/comment-page-1/#comment-279 Daryll Smith Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:08:21 +0000 http://www.aidsbeacon.com/?p=8745#comment-279 While I am not HIV-Positive, I have reason to believe that my family might have some type of genetic immunity. I have two brothers who are former IV drug users. They were both diagnosed as HIV-Positive more than 20 years ago. Because of their lifestyle, they neglected to seek treatment for about 12 years. To date, neither one of them have progressed to full blown AIDS. I also have two sisters who were both unknowingly exposed to HIV-Positive men -- one sister was exposed to two separate men over a period of several years. Two of these men were married to my sisters and the third was a sexual partner. (In an unrelated matter, all three men knew they were HIV-Positive, yet withheld this information from my sisters.) Neither one of my sisters became HIV-Positive, while two of the three men have since died from AIDS related illnesses. For the sake of research, do you recommend that my siblings be tested for possible genetic immunity? While I am not HIV-Positive, I have reason to believe that my family might have some type of genetic immunity. I have two brothers who are former IV drug users. They were both diagnosed as HIV-Positive more than 20 years ago. Because of their lifestyle, they neglected to seek treatment for about 12 years. To date, neither one of them have progressed to full blown AIDS.

I also have two sisters who were both unknowingly exposed to HIV-Positive men — one sister was exposed to two separate men over a period of several years. Two of these men were married to my sisters and the third was a sexual partner. (In an unrelated matter, all three men knew they were HIV-Positive, yet withheld this information from my sisters.) Neither one of my sisters became HIV-Positive, while two of the three men have since died from AIDS related illnesses.

For the sake of research, do you recommend that my siblings be tested for possible genetic immunity?

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