New findings in HIV

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  Jul 23, 2008 10:32 PM GMT

  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.

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  Jul 23, 2008 10:41 PM GMT

  My question is; does such a strain actually exist?
  
  

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• roadbikeRob
  
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  Jul 23, 2008 10:56 PM GMT

  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.

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  Jul 23, 2008 11:05 PM GMT

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

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• roadbikeRob
  
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  Jul 23, 2008 11:14 PM GMT

  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?

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  Jul 23, 2008 11:28 PM GMT

  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.

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  Jul 24, 2008 12:12 AM GMT

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

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• dfrourke
  
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  Jul 24, 2008 12:20 AM GMT

  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

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  Jul 24, 2008 12:22 AM GMT

  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.

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  Jul 24, 2008 2:29 AM GMT

  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.
  

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  Jul 24, 2008 2:07 PM GMT

  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.
  
  

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  Jul 24, 2008 2:55 PM GMT

  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.
  
  

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  Jun 25, 2009 6:33 PM GMT

  Yes superstrains are possible, but sometimes treatable too. I had a resistance to a couple treatments when I was diagnosed with AIDS and still found that Atripla was a good medication. Im now undectable and my T-cells are quickly on the rise. Just depends on your treatment and how well your doctors can work for you! The best thing to do is get tested early and catch the virus while your T-cells are still around! Its hard to climb uphill--that was my mistake.
  get tested

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  Jun 25, 2009 6:35 PM GMT

  Science is what it is.
  
  Antibiotic resistant bacteria are becoming more and more common because of our overuse of antibiotics.
  
  Having "too clean" environments also is negatively affecting our immune systems.
  
  Super strains of viruses are nothing new. They come along all the time.
  
  In the short term, mature and responsible behavior is the right thing to do.
  
  In the long term, the way we approach medicine will change. We'll have a fuller understanding of the science behind the various illnesses.
  
  Decent people behave responsibly. Like it, or not, in 2009, there's very little excuse for contracting HIV.

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  Jun 25, 2009 6:40 PM GMT

  I work with a major HIV/AIDS agency in South Florida, and have not heard of an HIV "super strain." Please provide specific references and studies.

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  Jun 25, 2009 6:42 PM GMT

  Having BB sex I dont think will ever go away....its not just in the gay community though. You have teenage pregnancy that seems to be always increasing, std's on the rise, the divorce rate at over 50% that I am sure alot of that is due to infidelity.
  
  As much as people preach about safety, which is a good thing to do and the "right" thing to do....its not what people want. Its been that way for so long and I dont see it changing. There are many things in life that are'nt good for us and we know it, but we choose what "feels" good, or get caught up in the moment and think, "well its just this once, it wont hurt me"

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  Jun 25, 2009 6:49 PM GMT

  redbull saidHaving BB sex I dont think will ever go away....its not just in the gay community though. You have teenage pregnancy that seems to be always increasing, std's on the rise, the divorce rate at over 50% that I am sure alot of that is due to infidelity.
  
  As much as people preach about safety, which is a good thing to do and the "right" thing to do....its not what people want. Its been that way for so long and I dont see it changing. There are many things in life that are'nt good for us and we know it, but we choose what "feels" good, or get caught up in the moment and think, "well its just this once, it wont hurt me"

  
  
  It gets down to bad parenting, or the lack of any parenting, and folks having an I,I,I,me,me,me, in the moment view on life with lack of view of the bigger picture.
  
  Star Trek's Spock had the following reflection:
  In an insane society a man must appear as insane in order to be regarded as sane.
  
  This comes into play every day in what's called Conformance Theory in psychology. False belief systems (religion, cults, superstitions, and like) use conformance theory to manipulate their believers. Hitler is a classic example of using this to his own ends. Religion functions almost completely upon it.
  
  It gets down to leadership from within. Until that happens, things will continue to get worse.
  
  Another example is the obesity pandemic. MILLIONS dieing but it's still not politically correct to change culture, ... just yet. Eventually, enough folks will die, and the cost will be enough that culture will evolve.

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  Jun 25, 2009 7:22 PM GMT

  dfrourke said
  
  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.
  

  
  
  Wow! I had no idea about that "or" part, learn something new everyday. That makes the problem infinitely more serious.
  
  
  

  tonyp321The 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.

  
  
  Of course we know who will get blamed again. It is scientific fact that men who have sex with men (in the form of anal sex) are at the highest risk for HIV infection. Who else to blame but a group that tolerates risky behavior? Not that playing the blame game is going to matter much when an infection like that enters the general population...
  
  It's a change in behavior that we need, not simply and uncritically chanting the mantra of safe-r sex.

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