HIV Vaccine
The morning plenary sessions elegantly described important new science related to the immune system and genetic factors that influence HIV disease. Sarah Rowland-Jones from Cambridge provided an overview of how the immune system attempts to fight HIV infection. Perhaps most revealing was discussion as to how much we still need to learn about the body's response to HIV before we are likely to be able to develop and effective vaccine to prevent infection.
Genetic Studies and AIDS
Professor Telenti from Switzerland reviewing genetic factors that influence the behavior of HIV in a given individual, as well as how such factors might be used to predict who is at risk for select drug toxicity. Genetic studies have been a growing area of interest in all aspects of medicine including in the field of HIV. Studies have attempted to identify what is different in the genes of those who experience disease progression slower or quicker than others. After all, one of the most intriguing aspects of this infection is that disease progression occurs at such different rates with some developing AIDS within a few years of infection while others remain asymptomatic with essentially normal immune system for more than a decade. In fact, several genes have been identified that may account for these differences. The same has been shown for select side effects from medications, such as predictors of developing severe allergic reactions to select drugs such as abacavir (Ziagen™). Although at this time we do not have technology to change peoples genes these types of studies may provide a means by which we can better assess ones risk of disease progression, or who is at risk for developing important side effects from select medications. Currently such genetic testing is mostly limited to research settings until more is learned.
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