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Blood types linked to HIV resistance

Other News Materials 13 January 2009 23:36 (UTC +04:00)

An international research team has suggested that certain blood types place individuals at an increased risk of contracting HIV.

Individuals with excess amounts of Pk, a carbohydrate-containing antigen found on the surface of white and red blood cells, are reportedly less sensitive to HIV infection.

According to the study published in Blood, individuals who have no Pk on their blood cells are vulnerable to the virus.

Increasing the Pk antigen levels in laboratory cells was associated with a lower risk of developing HIV infection following exposure to the virus.

Scientists are optimistic that their findings will help develop new strategies to protect individuals against HIV infection by increasing their resistance to the virus.

Pk blood group is a classification distinct from the well-known ABO and Rh blood grouping system.

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