Mustapha G Muhammad
Nigeria
Review Article
Genetic Redundancy and Chemokines: CCR5 Δ32 HIV-Resistance Allele
Author(s): Abdullahi I Uba, Sani S Usman, Musbahu M Sani, Umar A Abdullahi, Mustapha G Muhammad and Umar S Abdussalam Abdullahi I Uba, Sani S Usman, Musbahu M Sani, Umar A Abdullahi, Mustapha G Muhammad and Umar S Abdussalam
Gene mutation is a change in nucleotide sequence of DNA which results in an impaired or loss of functions of the associated gene. Mutation can occur spontaneously or be induced by mutagenic agent. It is considered deleterious when it affects the phenotypic expression of the gene products. However, some mutations, such as CCR5 gene mutation turns out to be beneficial. HIV virus uses the gene product, CCR5, as a co-receptor along with CD4 receptor to enter the host’s cell. The product of CCR5 mutant gene does not interact with HIV surface antigen, hence blocks the primary entry of the virus and thus provides immunity to AIDS for homozygous carriers and greatly slows the progress of the disease in heterozygous carriers. How about the critical role of the gene, being the gene encoding a member of the beta chemokine receptors, which in turn play an important role in the immune respon.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2329-9088.1000191