3 ms·
> and in both cases due to rare strains with resistance to both drugs. So then it is only a matter of time before we have 'super' HIV strains that are resistan
by craftyguy 8y ago
> and in both cases due to rare strains with resistance to both drugs.
So then it is only a matter of time before we have 'super' HIV strains that are resistant running around. Perhaps it's not such a great idea to have large numbers of people exposing these drugs to the virus regularly, else we'll end up with more resistant strains..
- matthewmacleod 8y agoI'm not a virologist, but my understanding is that the lifecycle of HIV makes that unlikely. An individual must be infected with the virus in order for drug resistance to emerge; using PReP prevents infection from happening in the first place by stopping viral replication. HIV is quite hard to transmit – someone who is not infected or who is on a stable treatment regime can't transmit the virus to anybody, so resistance isn't much of a concern there. The bigger risk of drug-resistant strains emerging is due to poor adherence to medication regimes. Missing doses of antiretroviral therapy can cause drug resistance to emerge rapidly, as viral replication is no longer suppressed and HIV mutates like crazy.
- root_axis 8y agoSo what are you suggesting exactly, an end to vaccines? What makes HIV any different?
- craftyguy 8y agoThat is not a vaccine... No antibodies are created by the body to attack HIV. There's a big difference.