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Scientific Explaination

Regular language

Essentially different strains of HIV are combining to create a super strain.

There was an episode of Law and Order on last night with an interesting topic. Gay Circuits and PNP groups. In this episode it started with a homicide, as usual, that lead to knowledge the victim was infected with a super strain of HIV that goes to full blown AIDS in less six months and drugs are ineffective in combating it. The victim and his partner were killed by a safer sex advocate whos brother died after becoming infected by the super strain. The defense argument was interesting as well and might actually work in RL in certain states.

But enough rambling and back to the topic on hand. The reason I bring this particular topic up is because I know pos men who BB with other pos men. Imagine the death toll if that a new HIV strain like in Law and Order came to light? Full blown AIDs in 6months immune to drug treatments. Of course we know who will get blamed for it again.

My question is; does such a strain actually exist?

It does not matter if a super strain of HIV exists, the bottom line is that many gay men have become dangerously careless when having sex. This is totally inexcusable. If these men do not stop barebacking and putting themselves at risk for HIV infection, then they have no one else but themselves to blame if they get infected. Its just their own stupidity. Unfortunately the rest of the gay community will have to bear the brunt from a negative backlash from society thanks to these damned, ignorant, sex-crazed fools.

roadbikeRob, I agree with you but; the subject is a superstrain of HIV. Stay focussed.

If these damned, ignorant, sex-crazed fools get infected by this superstrain of HIV, who is going to take the hit for this possible infection?

Super strain exist? depends on how you want to define a super strain.

If you mean resistant to drugs yes. If you mean killed within six months no, not yet. Will it happen? Most definitely and most likely sooner then anticipate.

Look at MSRA scientist knew resistant strains will come about and it happened much sooner. HIV is a much more serious threat in my opinion because of its ability to hide.

Patient A is HIV- becomes infect with Strain A. His body creates T cells to fight it off, however he is ignorant and continues to have sex. Gets infected with Strain B. Strain B meets with A and absorbs it and all its characteristics creating a new strain.

Also this new information proves why a vaccine wouldn't be possible given that there are over a dozen different strains already out there.

*edit This brings up the fact that even though someone is positive and only play with other positive guys they still need to play safer.

Super Strain? All the more reason to be Super Careful.

To Note:

There is "SUPER infection" = being infected with more than one strain of HIV. Which IS possible for HIV positive folks who have not yet reached their viral set point [i.e. once their own immune system gets the infection under control - up to 18 months typically].

and there is "Drug Resistence" = when the predominant form of HIV in one's system is resistent to a class [or classes] of anti-retroviral meds. This can happen over time during disease progression OR when one is infected by someone who is treatment 'experienced' and already resistent to certain treatment options.

Not all HIV is created equal.

It is still important to protect oneself whether you are negative or positive.

want more info?

http://www.aidsmeds.com/

- David

i think there was a case a few years ago about a young man who actually had a super strain akin to the one you saw on the show. he progressed to full-blown AIDS in 6-8 months and died shortly after. i will try to find that story, my microbiology professor brought that up when we were talking about superinfections.

Superstrain or not, I think it is up to the consenting adults involved in sex, poz or not, to decide whether to bareback.

I don't think any of us can say what we would and would not do, unless we're actually positive.

The judgments of others in this thread are very harsh.

Well, "wish in one hand and ..." you know the rest.
I wish everyone in the world was nice to one another and were law abiding citizens of democracies, that aint gonna happen anytime soon either. What will be will be.

If such a superstrain does exist, our scientists will just have to find a way to defeat it. One advantage of HIV infection in developed countries is that more effort has been made in understanding the human immune system than ever before. Perhaps it will lead to cures for many diseases and not just AIDS.

As optimistic as I would like to be regarding a cure for HIV and AIDs, john, I have to say I highly doubt such a thing is possible.

This new finding is showing that HIV is very advance. Not only does it mutant, hide and among other things but it is also able to combine and absorb previous strains retaining all of the information from both strains.

This new finding explains why the vaccine approach didn't work and why it wont work. From what I have seen in regards to research etc regarding this virus scientist are going about it the wrong way. I hate saying this but honestly in alot of ways I believe the virus is smarter then the scientist.

Now if they continue to work backwards on this virus and study it even further before attempting to develop ways to combat it it will go alot better.