Researcher Dr Eric Artz said: "This was a very preliminary study, but we did find a pretty striking observation in that the viruses from the 2000s are much weaker than the viruses from the eighties…
“What appears to be happening is that by the time HIV passes from one person to another, it has already toned down some of its most pathogenic effects in response to its host’s immune system,”[Keith Alcorn] said. “So the virus that is passed on is less ‘fit’ each time. This would suggest that over several generations, HIV could become less harmful to its human hosts”…
Will Nutland, of the charity Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "This latest study adds to the debate on an apparently confusing and contradictory issue. "Some studies suggest recent strains of HIV are more sensitive to drugs while others claim strains are becoming more resistant.
