Wound healing events in mucous tissues during early infection by Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, or SIV, guard some primate species against developing AIDS, a new study has learned. The research looked at why certain species can carry the virus throughout their lives, and still avoid disease progression. SIV is closely related to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It is used as a laboratory model for many studies seeking AIDS and HIV cures and preventions.
“We think the regenerative wound healing process likely preserves the tissue integrity, and could prevent the inflammatory insults that underlie immune exhaustion, cell death and AIDS that happen due to SIV or HIV infection,” said study researcher Michael Gale, Professor at the University of Washington in the US. In this latest study, scientists sought to uncover, in natural hosts, successful virus-fighting tactics that could inform the design of better antiviral drugs to treat HIV in people.
The research team combined data from their experiments and from other published studies to generate their findings.
They also conducted additional types of bioinformatics analyses, which incorporate methods and tools from computer science, biology, mathematics, statistics, information engineering and other fields. (IANS)
