This project is an accumulation of various readings into the subject of AIDS-Resistance Genes. More specifically this project started by investigating two papers:

 

"Homozygous Defect in HIV-1 Coreceptor Accounts for Resistance of Some Multiply-Exposed Individuals to HIV-1 Infection", Rong Liu et al. Cell, Vol 86, No. 3, Pages 367-377; August 9. 1996

 

"Contrasting Genetic Influence of CCR2 and CCR5 Variants on HIV-1 Infection and Disease Progression", Michael W. Smith et. al. Science, Vol 277. Pages 959-965, August 15. 1997

These papers investigated why certain individuals have been multiply exposed to HIV-1 and yet remain uninfected. The results of the papers reasoned that a small subpopulation, about 1 percent, of those uninfected individuals carry a certain defect in the CCR5 (or CKR5) gene. This is a cell surface receptor which has been recently identified as the primary molecule responsible for HIV-1 entry into macrophages. Macrophage-tropic viruses appear to be primarily transmitted by sexual contact and represent the majority of the virus present during early infection.

From these papers our group expanded it's interest in AIDS and HIV-1 to include additional readings, and eventually the group members were tested to determine if any member of our group had such a defect in their CCR5 gene.

The topic was so interesting to us that we decided to not only include information concerning the CCR5 coreceptor, but also about HIV, AIDS, and treatments for these diseases.  We also feel that education is the best method to prevent any further transmission of HIV and AIDS. 

We hope that every individual who accesses our site will realize, if they have not already, the serious implications of HIV and AIDS.

To best view the material in this site, we feel it would be best start with information about the AIDS and HIV-1 viruses and then investigate our investigations into CCR5, followed by a review of the experiment we performed to determine our CCR5 allotype.

- GROUP 12