(a) whether the Government is aware that according to a study, a gene therapy may help people fight AIDS; and
(b) if so, the details thereof ?
(a) whether the Government is aware that according to a study, a gene therapy may help people fight AIDS; and
(b) if so, the details thereof ?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS)
(a) Yes, one such study has been carried out in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
(b) A set of Immunomodulatory gene have been identified that may have protective effect in patients infected with HIV. But in patients who posses variants of these genes it may lead to faster disease progression.
A study carried out in the AIIMS, has reported that certain genes that confer protection against progression to AIDS in HIV-infected patients occurs in lower frequency in Indian populations. The study also reported that genes associated with faster disease progression are more common in Indians.