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From: Tom.Tempe@p0.f101.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Tom Tempe)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: symbiosis?
Message-ID: <1991Jan28.120515.22578@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 28 Jan 91 02:41:37 GMT
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   I've been wondering for a while if some aspects of HIV ( high mutation
rate, ability to hide from immune system, variability) could be due to a 
symbiotic relationship with a prion. I don't have a degree so getting research 
done is virtually impossible. If there is a prion based on part of a 
mitochondra ( unknown but not impossible, per Dr. Prusiner) it would show 
universal selfness and , if present in sufficient quantity could hide other 
agents present from the immune system. If it had a zinc finger instead of an 
unidentified sugar molecule (again, unknown but possible, per Dr. Prusiner) it 
could be mutagenic ( possible but not known, per Alan Wilson). Since it's the 
type of quasi-organism that wouldn't be noticed unless it was checked for 
specifically it could slip past current research.
  Is there any research on this , or if not a good way to get it researched
(categorizing patients with different immune responses and rates of symptom 
onset and looking for it by electrophoresis and looking for zinc) so a 
determination could be made?

--  
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