FRENCH scientists have discovered an intriguing connection between a parasite and HIV. The parasite, which causes schistosomiasis, a disease widespread in Africa, and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, appear to produce a similar protein. The discovery, to be published in this month's Journal of Experimental Medicine, could give clues to the origin and epidemiology of AIDS.
Andre Capron, of the Pasteur Institute in Lille, France, and his colleagues, work on both schistosomiasis and HIV. Schistosomes are tiny, multicellular parasites that spend part of their lives in snails, and are spread to humans in fresh water. Each year, schistosomiasis, also called bilharzia, kills 800 000 people. Two hundred million people are disabled because of the disease.
Capron's team wanted to know which proteins on schistosomes are recognised by antibodies in the blood of animals with schistosomiasis. This would show which surface proteins are most effective in inducing immunity to the ...
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