The discussion about the origin of AIDS made me start thinking about those people who have survived HIV infection for very long periods of time. I understand that, for instance, some prostitutes in Kinshasa appear to have had the infection for a far longer period than most people and yet never developed symptoms. I’ve also heard about similar cases in the Western world.
What are these groups called, and since the last time I heard about this was a few years ago, did these folks just end up being people who took an especially long time to become symptomatic?
Any info on why certain people manage to be infected without developing AIDS?
I might be a little out of line in replying here, because I can’t actually provide an answer to the OP, but I think it is worth noting that viruses are famous for being able to remain dormant in some hosts. Even the humble chicken pox virus can, after infection, remain in nerve cells for many years only to pop up again as Shingles (no fun). A couple of the big mysteries in the medical world are: [ul]
[li]Why do some viruses go dormant in some people?[/li][li]What causes them to spring into action later?[/li][/ul]