The latest research shows that "simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)" is known as the "ancestor of HIV", which can spread across species between humans and chimpanzees, and is probably the original source of human infection with AIDS.
Tencent Science News According to the British Daily Mail, scientists have discovered the first virus strain believed to be the "ancestor" of HIV. This virus can cause AIDS. It may be caused by human bites or wounds infected with blood from chimpanzees while hunting chimpanzees. Caused by. Experts believe that the history of human infection with AIDS can be traced back to the rainforests of West Africa in the early 20th century. Currently, the latest research supports this theory and confirms that HIV can be transmitted between chimpanzees and humans.
Scientists speculate that hunters or jungle game meat dealers are the earliest simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections. SIV virus is the monkey version of HIV. Virologists believe it is the ancestor of AIDS. A recent study by scientists confirmed that the SIV strain carried by chimpanzees can also infect humans.
They found the first laboratory evidence that chimpanzee SIV virus infects human cells. Research report author and biologist Li Qingsheng (transliteration) said: "The question is whether the SIV strain is another potential route of HIV infection that has not yet been discovered in the human body? Our research It turns out that it actually is."
Researchers want to understand why humans can be infected with AIDS strains but can avoid other strains. HIV is usually divided into 4 types-M, N, O and P. Type M can form an epidemic of AIDS, which can infect 40 million people by spreading in Africa and other parts of the world; Type N and P are the other extreme , Only exists in the minority group of patients in Cameroon; but type O is not as widespread as type M, although the number of HIV patients of this type in Western Central Africa is about 100,000.
Researchers implanted human cells with SIV strains in mice. Experimental results showed that the probability of M type SIV-derived HIV and special Cameroon virus infecting mice is lower than that of SIV viruses that have not been found in humans. Professor Li Qingsheng said: "Based on this experiment, we clearly see the differences between these strains. This means that when a person is exposed to another strain, there is likely to be differences in cross-species transmission."
At the same time, the research team also found that when the SIV strain enters the cell, it can overcome the unique barriers of human infection with the virus. This has been questioned by researchers for a long time. Li Qingsheng and research colleagues pointed out that the recent outbreak of Zika virus emphasizes the importance of identifying viruses from animals to humans.