Blood type decide resistance to HIV
A Canadian-Swedish research team has found a blood type molecule that increases the resistance to HIV-infections.
The researchers have found a blood type molecule that normally exists on the surface of both white and red blood corpuscles. They showed that a great amount of this molecule increases the resistance to HIV, and a lack of this molecule decreases the resistance to HIV.
The molecule the researchers have found is a carbohydrate based blood type called PK that exists on several levels on the cell membrane. There are hundreds of differences in the blood from one person to another. These differences can be measured in various systems, the ABO- and Rh systems are mostly used. The PK system is an extended system. In the study, the cells in persons with a very high amount of PK had an increased resistance against HIV, and contrary.
