A.i.d.s. May Be Fastest Mutating Virus (Press, 8 September 1987)
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Summary: A.i.d.s. May Be Fastest Mutating Virus (Press, 8 September 1987)
A recent study conducted by scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico has revealed that the A.I.D.S. virus, known as human immunodeficiency virus (H.I.V.), may be the fastest mutating virus known to humanity. According to a report in the “Washington Post”, H.I.V. can mutate up to five times faster than the influenza virus, which was previously regarded as the fastest-evolving virus. Researchers found that over the past decade, the genetic structure of the A.I.D.S. virus has changed as significantly as the influenza virus has in the last half-century. Gerald Myers, a molecular geneticist at Los Alamos, noted that the A.I.D.S. viruses have developed into a complex family tree with many new genetic branches. He employed the laboratory’s computer systems—traditionally used for nuclear weapons research—to compare genetic codes from various A.I.D.S. strains collected between 1976 and 1986. This data included the genetic sequences of approximately 30 different A.I.D.S. strains. The speed at which H.I.V. mutates poses serious challenges for the treatment and prevention of the disease. Researchers indicated that the strain of the virus infecting an individual can evolve into multiple new strains during that person's lifetime. Dr Myers expressed concerns that the rapid genetic changes could hinder efforts to develop effective treatments and vaccines that would work across all strains of the virus. A.I.D.S. is a severe and contagious disease that significantly undermines the immune system, thereby making individuals susceptible to various infections and diseases. Since 1979, a total of 41,366 people in the United States have been diagnosed with the A.I.D.S. virus, leading to 23,884 fatalities. The findings from the Los Alamos study highlight the urgency of addressing the changing nature of the virus in the fight against this public health crisis.
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