Oxford research: is HIV devolving?

[shenmue]

http://m.bbc.com/news/health-30254697

Researchers at Oxford have uncovered some surprising findings about HIV. The virus may be changing in ways which take longer to cause deadly effects. This would allow patients to live longer and receive treatment.

From the article:

The team at the University of Oxford shows the virus is being "watered down" as it adapts to our immune systems.

It said it was taking longer for HIV infection to cause AIDS and that the changes in the virus may help efforts to contain the pandemic.

[uppityperson]

1. that'd be nice. k&r

[Yo_Mama]

2. That's really kind of expected

If people take enough precautions, the viral strains that are less lethal are preferentially spread.

It can go in reverse, too. If the virus gets in a situation in which transmission is easier, strains that are stronger may be preferentially spread.

[Damansarajaya]

3. You are correct.

I won't win any friends saying this, but it's an open secret in the medical community that promiscuous sex allowed the quickly-lethal forms of the virus to propagate. In a community of nearly-monogamous pairs, the quickly-lethal virus would kill off one partner before it could widely infect others, and thus limit its own spread.

Not so with folks who have many partners quickly and without precaution. Behavior clearly shapes the evolutionary track of a fast mutating virus like HIV.

No judgement here . . . just medical fact.

[NuclearDem]

4. No, because "devolving" is not a thing.