Individuals homozygous for the CCR5Δ32 allele are more likely to suffer from fatal West Nile Virus infection.

A genetic mutation that protects against HIV infection increases the risk of developing clinical West Nile virus (WNV) infection, according to Glass and colleagues on page 35.

The mutation in question is a 32-bp deletion in a gene that encodes the chemokine receptor CCR5, which was identified in 1996 as a cellular coreceptor for HIV. Individuals homozygous for this mutation (CCR5Δ32) are highly resistant to HIV infection, even when repeatedly exposed to the virus. This resistance was the theoretical basis for the development of therapeutic CCR5 inhibitors, several of which are now in clinical trials. CCR5 seemed like an ideal drug target, as people missing the receptor were healthy and no diseases or infections were known to be more frequent or severe in individuals...

The Rockefeller University Press
2006
The Rockefeller University Press
2006
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