Let's say that John has HIV with a genotype of AA. Let's say Jane has HIV with a 'genotype' of BB. Now, if the two exchange HIV via needle sharing or intercourse, some of their cells could become infected by two HIV strains at once. A novel combination of John's and Jane's HIV could result: AB.
This is one mechanism by which resistance to retroviral therapy arises. This pedantic introduction helps to frame the following, otherwise-joyful article in a slightly more sober epidemiological light:
From a HealthGAP posting:
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Shunned Indian HIV victims seek infected spouses
Mon 2 Oct 2006 9:08:24 BST
By Rupam Jain Nair
SURAT, India, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Dozens of Indian men and women
infected with HIV/AIDS have agreed to marry each other after meeting
at a special matchmaking event, hoping to end the isolation the
deadly infection often brings.
Thirty infected men and women from across the country met at
the "HIV+ Find a Life Partner" session late on Sunday in the western
city of Surat, brought together by a local voluntary group working
with HIV/AIDS patients.
For over two hours, they shared their experiences, discussed their
families, medical histories and professions, with some even
introducing their prospective partners to accompanying relatives,
before agreeing marry.
"We hope to die on a positive note even though we are infected by
this virus," said Sanjay Joshi, a Surat engineer, who lost his wife
to AIDS four years ago.
Marriage would give him and his partner physical and emotional
support said the 32-year-old man who agreed to marry a HIV infected
woman from southern India and adopt her children.
"Only a HIV-positive person can understand and respect my status. We
are all living with uncertainty every minute. Let us try and enjoy
every bit of life with a companion," said Joshi who has been
ostracised by his parents and friends.
India has the world's highest HIV/AIDS caseload with 5.7 million
infected people. Although the country reported its first case in
1986 most victims face acute stigma due to a lack of awareness and
misconceptions about the disease.
Over the years, the country has reported many instances of families
disowning their loved ones because they are infected, children of
HIV/AIDS patients being thrown out of school, landlords refusing to
rent houses to victims and a infected woman having to abort her own
foetus as doctors shunned her.
HIV/AIDS victims and voluntary groups working with them have been
campaigning for a law to prevent discrimination of patients and
accuse the government of dragging its feet on the legislation.
Daksha Patel, a coordinator at the "Network of Surat People Living
with HIV+", the group which organised the matchmaking event, said
the aim was to bring together as many infected people as possible to
help them find partners.
"Let them find, choose and decide on a partner. It will add a new
spark to the lonely lives and give them a new zest to start all over
again," she said. Patel, who is infected by the virus herself, said
many infected women at Sunday's event were widows or divorcees who
were infected by their husbands and shunned by families.
One such widow, 28-year-old Rani Patel, said she was thrown out by
her in-laws after they found their son had died of AIDS and their
daughter-in-law was infected as well.
"I learnt I was HIV-positive after my husband died," Rani Patel said.
"By marrying again I can create awareness that HIV victims can live
and enjoy a normal life," she said as she attached her photograph to
an application form for a partner.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?
storyId=DEL33562&WTmodLoc=World-R5-Alertnet-5
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