It may now be possible to tell from tests done shortly after seroconversion. how quickly and HIV-1 infected person is likely to progress to AIDS. Homayoon Farzadegan and colleagues at the John Hopkins University, Baltimore, US. compared the rate of progression of HIV infection in two groups of homosexuals — the so called rapid progressors' who develop illness within three years of seroconversion and 'non-rapld-pro-Eessors' who have been in-:ted with the virus for over six years but did not develop into full blown ADS patients.

The have identified that the HIV-1 gag proteins p 17 and p24 are auite crucial in this process. Studying the process of rapid anti-gag response in these people will help detect the HIV infection much earlier than at present.

CSE/Down To Earth Features.