Elite controllers are a small group of people with HIV who keep the virus at undetectable levels without taking antiretroviral drugs. Researchers say this group is important because studying them could reveal ways to treat or even cure HIV. An undetectable viral load means there is not enough virus to be transmittable.
Thumbi Ndung'u, director for basic and translational science at the Africa Health Research Institute and a professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, says elite controllers seem to have a superior antiviral immune system, but the mechanisms are not uniform or fully understood. A person is often described as an elite controller after at least two years without ARVs and with an undetectable viral load.
Scientists are looking for genetic factors in African populations. The HIV Host Genome project aims to identify distinct genetic traits. Some elite controllers take part in research and donate samples to help the work.
Difficult words
- elite controller — people with HIV who keep virus lowElite controllers
- antiretroviral drug — medicine that stops or slows the virusantiretroviral drugs
- undetectable — not able to be found by medical tests
- viral load — amount of virus in a person's blood
- transmittable — able to pass from one person to another
- mechanism — a biological process that causes an effectmechanisms
- genetic trait — a characteristic that comes from a person's DNAgenetic traits
- donate — to give samples for research or medical use
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Discussion questions
- Do you think studying elite controllers could help find a cure for HIV? Why or why not?
- Would you donate biological samples to medical research? What would make you decide yes or no?
- Why is it important to study genetic factors in different populations, such as African populations?
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