Immune to HIV?

On a completely different rant….I was rolling thru my tech news updates and discovered this little gem.

…..All those with the highest level of HIV immunity share a pair of mutated genes — one in each chromosome — that prevent their immune cells from developing a “receptor” that lets the AIDS virus break in. If the so-called CCR5 receptor — which scientists say is akin to a lock — isn’t there, the virus can’t break into the cell and take it over.

To be protected, people must inherit the genes from both parents; those who inherit a mutated gene from just one parent will end up with greater resistance against HIV than other people, but they won’t be immune. An estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of those descended from Northern Europeans have the lesser protection……

I’ve lost several friends to this nasty bugger so I like to stay up-to-date. This was a total surprise but not completely unexpected. I can only hope it turns into a real weapon instead of just another theory.