Scientists first found apes HIV and human proximity

World Science report (); France, scientists recently in Cameroon in southern wild Gorilla group has found a kind and human immunodeficiency virus subtypes of O HIV-1 is very close to the apes AIDS virus. This is the scientific community for the first time in Gorilla Group found such a virus.

This research is the development of the Institute of France and Montpellier first University scientists and other international counterparts. Research results published in the 9th edition of the journal nature.

So far, scientists have found that more than 30 kinds of African primates carrying different species of apes AIDS virus.

Participate in the study, Ms. describes petkovski said, they right from Cameroon in the southern region of hundreds of primates for testing of faeces, accidentally in six Gorilla droppings were found in the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 antibodies. Even they were surprised that the ensuing gene analysis found that gorilla for HIV and HIV subtypes of O.

Peeters explains that HIV including M, N, O three subtypes of the virus, one of the most common is M subtypes, there is also a relatively rare N subtypes, these two groups of viruses are chimpanzees by blood for humans, such as hunters in the hunting was bitten or local residents injured in dismembering his prey. However, the scientific community to date is not yet clear O subtype.

Peeters said that they found these viruses are gorillas and a group of different belongs to the living area is 400 km, it shows in the area of Gorilla group in the AIDS epidemic is likely to be quite extensive. She especially stressed that since the district inhabitants hunt Gorilla habits, so the virus threat to human health cannot be neglected.