By: Alexandria Addesso
The AIDS Epidemic of the 1980s was devastating throughout the world, and even though most first world countries have access to medications that make living with the disease possible, this is not true everywhere. In 2015 alone 1.1 million people died due to AIDS-related illnesses. It is truly a devastating disease that all people should be aware of, yet unknowingly to most of the population, some people are immune to contracting it.
The genetic mutation CCR5-delta 32 was discovered by British scientists in 2005. It was uncovered that 10 percent of Europeans, that have two copies of this specific genetic mutation, are resistant to the HIV virus which causes AIDS. This group of people, are also resistant to contracting smallpox or the bubonic plague. It is actually believed the massive outbreak of the bubonic plague in the Middle Ages is the cause of the spread of the mutation or the later outbreaks of the haemorrhagic plague. Twenty percent of the world’s population carries one copy of the mutation and although they still run a significant risk of contracting HIV, the progression of the AIDs disease is greatly reduced and can result in a longer life expectancy.
“The fact that the CCR5-delta 32 mutation is restricted to Europe suggests that the plagues of the Middle Ages played a big part in raising the frequency of the mutation,” said Professor Christopher Duncan from the University of Liverpool’s School of Biological Sciences. “These plagues that were also confined to Europe, persisted for more than 300 years and had a 100 percent case mortality.”
Specifically it is people from Northern Europe and Northwestern Asia that most commonly have the CCR5-delta 32 genetic mutation, in particular those of Russian or Scandinavian descent including those with a close correlation to the Vikings which may have helped spread the mutation.
For the past several years scientist have been experimenting on human embryos by injecting them with the mutation to try and engineer HIV-resistant babies. Although they were successful, all the embryos were destroyed due to do the development of devastating unintended mutations. Currently anyone can be tested to see if they carry the mutation via a simple DNA genetics test.
The AIDS Epidemic of the 1980s was devastating throughout the world, and even though most first world countries have access to medications that make living with the disease possible, this is not true everywhere. In 2015 alone 1.1 million people died due to AIDS-related illnesses. It is truly a devastating disease that all people should be aware of, yet unknowingly to most of the population, some people are immune to contracting it.
The genetic mutation CCR5-delta 32 was discovered by British scientists in 2005. It was uncovered that 10 percent of Europeans, that have two copies of this specific genetic mutation, are resistant to the HIV virus which causes AIDS. This group of people, are also resistant to contracting smallpox or the bubonic plague. It is actually believed the massive outbreak of the bubonic plague in the Middle Ages is the cause of the spread of the mutation or the later outbreaks of the haemorrhagic plague. Twenty percent of the world’s population carries one copy of the mutation and although they still run a significant risk of contracting HIV, the progression of the AIDs disease is greatly reduced and can result in a longer life expectancy.
“The fact that the CCR5-delta 32 mutation is restricted to Europe suggests that the plagues of the Middle Ages played a big part in raising the frequency of the mutation,” said Professor Christopher Duncan from the University of Liverpool’s School of Biological Sciences. “These plagues that were also confined to Europe, persisted for more than 300 years and had a 100 percent case mortality.”
Specifically it is people from Northern Europe and Northwestern Asia that most commonly have the CCR5-delta 32 genetic mutation, in particular those of Russian or Scandinavian descent including those with a close correlation to the Vikings which may have helped spread the mutation.
For the past several years scientist have been experimenting on human embryos by injecting them with the mutation to try and engineer HIV-resistant babies. Although they were successful, all the embryos were destroyed due to do the development of devastating unintended mutations. Currently anyone can be tested to see if they carry the mutation via a simple DNA genetics test.
