Social Justice
New Subtype of HIV Discovered
- 08 Nov 2019
- 2 min read
Why in News
Recently, the researchers have discovered a new subtype of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) called HIV-1 Group M, subtype L. It is the first time a subtype of HIV has been found in almost two decades.
- There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is considered the predominant type, representing the vast majority of infections worldwide, while HIV-2 is far less common and primarily concentrated in the west and central African regions.
Key Points
- Researchers used a tailored method of the next-generation genome sequencing technology to identify the new subtype.
- Genome sequencing is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome. It figures out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome, i.e, the order of Adenine, Cytosine, Guanines, and Thymine that make up an organism's DNA.
- The technology is helping scientists to stay one step ahead of mutating viruses and avoid a new pandemic.
- Group M viruses are responsible for the global pandemic- which can be traced back to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- HIV is a type of retrovirus. The combination of drugs used to treat it is called Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
- HIV attacks CD4-a type of White Blood Cell (T-cells) in the body’s immune system.
- It is transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, anal fluids, and breast milk.
- Statistics in India: The total number of people living with HIV was estimated at 21.40 lakh in 2017. India witnessed over 87,000 new cases in 2017 and saw a decline of 85% compared to 1995.
- World AIDS Day is observed on 1st December.
