I’m really surprised that this hasn’t gotten more press. I looked in Google news, and nearly all of the media outfits that picked it up are Canadian. Not one American mainstream news service other than Science Daily.

Now I realize that this study does come out of Canada, but this is really exciting stuff. Canada is a first world nation, speaks English, and conducts reputable scientific experiments. So why no interest?

From the University of Alberta:

February 28, 2008 – Edmonton – A team of researchers at the University of Alberta has discovered a gene that is able to block HIV, and in turn prevent the onset of AIDS. Stephen Barr, a molecular virologist in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, says his team has identified a gene called TRIM22 that can block HIV infection in a cell culture by preventing the assembly of the virus.

One of the greatest challenges in battling HIV is the virus’ ability to mutate and evade medications. Antiretroviral drugs introduced during the late 1990s interfere with HIV’s ability to produce new copies of itself – and though beneficial, the drugs are unable to eradicate the virus. Barr and his team have discovered a gene that could potentially do the job naturally.