Scientists from the research Carlos III Health Institute have found a gene mutation that protects against HIV infection, PLOS Pathogens reported.

This is a mutation in the TNPO3 gene, which is associated with the development of a rare disease - pelvic-brachial muscular dystrophy. However, this same mutation protects against the immunodeficiency virus: laboratory studies have shown that the cells of patients with this mutation are resistant to HIV infection.

The cells of patients with this mutation can be used to create new methods of treatment and prevention of HIV infection.

This is not the first case of the discovery of genetic modifications demonstrating a high resistance to HIV: earlier, Chinese scientist He Jiankui spoke about the birth of babies whose genes were modified using the CCR5Δ32 mutation. The scientist was sure that as a result of the procedure, the body of the children learned to resist HIV infection.