It has been shown that HIV can easily and rapidly adapt to evade immune system responses. It has now been shown that these mutations can be spread to the wider population, according to a study published in the journal Nature. Although it has been known for some time now that HIV will constantly adapt to conditions within the body, this new study shows that these mutations/adaptations that help HIV avoid immune cells within the body are now being passed on to large groups in the population.

In the study, individuals with a certain leukocyte antigen, or HLA gene, were less susceptible to HIV evolving into full blown AIDS. However, the study has shown that the HIV virus will quickly mutate to avoid the immune response of these HLA genes. In addition, the virus can spread this adaptation if it is spread to another person.

The HIV virus is so adaptable in fact that it is outpacing our own body's ability to adapt!

In societies which have a high prevalence of the HLA gene, there was also found a higher prevalence of the strain of the HIV virus which had the ability to escape this HLA gene. In essence, in populations with higher concentration of the HLA gene, we also found higher incidence of the escape mutation.

The sheer speed at which the HIV virus can adapt itself to immune system responses indicates how adaptable the virus really is. The implications for the creation of a HIV vaccine would make it so that it would need to include all known variants of the virus, especially the variants with the escape mutation.

HIV will mutate in order to adapt to immune system defenses. It also adapts to medical treatments, and inconsistencies in ARV (anti-retroviral) therapy. In order to avoid the early onset of AIDS and the complications surrounding AIDS related illness, strict adherence to the pharmaceutical regimen as prescribed by one's HIV medical specialist must be maintained. Skipping or missing doses can provide the virus with the opportunity to adapt itself, and render ones HAART therapy useless. In addition to this, to avoid becoming host to another variant strain of the HIV virus with these adaptations, one should follow safe sex practices to avoid becoming infected. The simple act of using a condom each and every time is the best advice.

The study was conducted by Philip Goulder of Oxford University. He and his colleagues analyzed some 2800 HIV positive people in Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, Japan, North America, and Africa.