This subtype has the potential to cause a human pandemic if it
mutates to a form that can be passed easily between humans.
Furthermore, most bacteria are not fooled by all isolated compound; Often the drug becomes ineffective or the cells
mutate eventually to become resistant to the drug.
In the absence of antiretroviral drugs, the virus is free to
mutate within the confines of a depleting immune system.
"We've been targeting human cells with therapeutics that modulate the way the cell makes lipids, and we like to target the human cell because it isn't likely to
mutate and become resistant to the drug.
But the virus would have to
mutate into a new form to cause mass casualties.
The World Health Organisation fears the strain could
mutate into a human flu - sparking a pandemic which would kill millions.
No one knows yet how HIV can lay dormant in T cells for years before bursting into action -- or why HIV is a master of disguise, able to
mutate or create different strains of itself like a quick-change artist.
But experts said it demonstrates once again how the bug can
mutate to form potentially deadly strains.
A 40-year-old woman in Vietnam is suffering from the most deadly form of the virus which doctors fear could
mutate into a more contagious version.
