Genetic Trait Boosts AIDS Risks in Blacks

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Dolan estimated that the increased susceptibility could account for millions of extra cases of HIV.

On the other hand, people who have the trait live an average of two years longer with the disease once they get it, the researchers found. "It's a two-edged sword," said study co-author Dr. Sunil K. Ahuja, a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Rowena Johnston, vice president of research with the Foundation for AIDS Research, said the new finding provides even more evidence of an evolutionary struggle between humans and disease. But it won't be easy to make the information useful.

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"Since any one individual has tens of thousands of genes, each of which may influence susceptibility in one direction or another, it's difficult to predict the outcome for any individual with any one particular genotype," she said.

Even if Africans or African-Americans discover they have this particular genetic trait, "What would they do with the information?" she asked.

As for using the new finding to develop a new anti-AIDS drug, that may be difficult because of the limited effect of the genetic trait, she said.

More information

Learn more about HIV and genetics from The Body.

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