Funny, I was just thinking about this topic the other day. WI the critical mutation of the virus took place circa 1500 in western Africa, just as European exploration was beginning? Spanish and Portugese vessels come in contact with infected locals, and crew members bring the HIV back home. Although the epidemiology would be similar to syphilis, the mortalility rate would be higher and the infection rate faster. If western Africa was seriously infected, it might even depopulate some areas, making the slave trade difficult, and reducing the number of healthy slaves, changing the economics of the coloniztion of the New
World.
What do you think?
Really? I've not heard that one.People who carries the Sickle-cell cronosome is easier infected with HIV
Around 15% of North Europe population has a mutation which make almost immune to HIV, because it's almost impossible for the virus to enter their cells.
Really? I've not heard that one.
I don't fancy trying it though....
Genetic resistance to AIDS works in different ways and appears in different ethnic groups. The most powerful form of resistance, caused by a genetic defect, is limited to people with European or Central Asian heritage. An estimated 1 percent of people descended from Northern Europeans are virtually immune to AIDS infection, with Swedes the most likely to be protected. One theory suggests that the mutation developed in Scandinavia and moved southward with Viking raiders.
All those with the highest level of HIV immunity share a pair of mutated genes -- one in each chromosome -- that prevent their immune cells from developing a "receptor" that lets the AIDS virus break in. If the so-called CCR5 receptor -- which scientists say is akin to a lock -- isn't there, the virus can't break into the cell and take it over.
To be protected, people must inherit the genes from both parents; those who inherit a mutated gene from just one parent will end up with greater resistance against HIV than other people, but they won't be immune. An estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of those descended from Northern Europeans have the lesser protection.
This could be really good for religion. It really reinforces the no sex before marriage thing.
Thing is, would anybody really notice?
You get a lot of prostitutes and malnourished people dying of TB.
Thing is, would anybody really notice?
You get a lot of prostitutes and malnourished people dying of TB.
People would probably notice, since the immune-compromised would contract many other 'weird' diseases and syndromes besides TB. It might take a while, but I think even 1880's doctors would figure out something new was a foot after a while. Not that there would be anything they could do about it, or that they'd even understand the pathology.
1862 - phagocytosis (Ernst Haeckel)
1867 - First aseptic practice in surgery using carbolic acid (Joseph Lister)
1876 - First demonstration that microbes can cause disease-anthrax (Robert Koch)
1877 - Mast cells (Paul Ehrlich)
1878 - Confirmation and popularization of the germ theory of disease (Louis Pasteur)
1880 - 1881 -Theory that bacterial virulence could be attenuated by culture in vitro and used as vaccines. Proposed that live attenuated microbes produced immunity by depleting host of vital trace nutrients. Used to make chicken cholera and anthrax "vaccines" (Louis Pasteur)
1883 - 1905 - Cellular theory of immunity via phagocytosis by macrophages and microphages (polymorhonuclear leukocytes) (Elie Metchnikoff)
1885 - Introduction of concept of a "therapeutic vaccination". First report of a live "attenuated" vaccine for rabies (Louis Pasteur).
1888 - Identification of bacterial toxins (diphtheria bacillus) (Pierre Roux and Alexandre Yersin)
1888 - Bactericidal action of blood (George Nuttall)
1890 - Demonstration of antibody activity against diphtheria and tetanus toxins. Beginning of humoral theory of immunity. (Emil von Behring) and (Shibasaburo Kitasato)
1891 - Demonstration of cutaneous (delayed type) hypersensitivity (Robert Koch)
1893 - Use of live bacteria and bacterial lysates to treat tumors-"Coley's Toxins" (William B. Coley)
1894 - Bacteriolysis (Richard Pfeiffer)
1896 - An antibacterial, heat-labile serum component (complement) is described (Jules Bordet)
1900 - Antibody formation theory (Paul Ehrlich)