HIV Evolving, Becoming Milder

A new study suggests that HIV seems to be evolving in a positive way. Unlike other bacteria that grow more resistant to drugs, HIV is gradually becoming milder.

"It is quite striking. You can see the ability to replicate is ten percent lower in Botswana than South Africa and that's quite exciting. We are observing evolution happening in front of us and it is surprising how quickly the process is happening. The virus is slowing down in its ability to cause disease and that will help contribute to elimination," explained Professor Phillip Goulder from the University of Oxford according to the Diabetes Insider.

"Twenty years ago, the time to Aids was ten years, but in the last ten years in Botswana that might have increased to 12.5 years, a sort of incremental change, but in the big picture that is a rapid change. One might imagine as time extends this could stretch further and further and in the future people being asymptomatic for decades," Goulder continued.

This take on the evolution of HIV was echoed by University of Nottingham virologist, Professor Jonathan Ball: "In theory if we're to let HIV run its course then we would see a human population emerge that was more resistant to the virus than we collectively are today-HIV infection would eventually become almost harmless. Such events have probably happened throughout history, but we are talking very large timescales."

Another comment to the study came from Infectious Diseases expert from Cardiff University, Professor Andrew Freedman: "By comparing the epidemic in Botswana with that which occurred somewhat later in South Africa, the researchers were able to demonstrate that the effect of this evolution is for the virus to become less virulent, or weaker, over time."

 "The widespread use of antiretroviral therapy may also have a similar effect and together, these effects may contribute to the ultimate control of the HIV epidemic, [but HIV is far from harmless] and other events will supersede that including wider access to treatment and eventually the development of a cure," Freedman added.

According to the Huffington Post, the fight against the global HIV-epidemic has yielded remarkable progress and success over the last decade. HIV-related deaths have been cut in half while new infections among children are reduced by 52% since 2011.