protective mutations
Protective mutations
Uncommonly, gene mutations may be protective. For example, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) uses a chemokine receptor, CCR5, to enter cells. A mutation in the CCR5 gene thus protects from HIV infection.
Another example is given by the protective role of HbS heterozygous mutations of drepanocytosis that can protect against erythrocyte infections by the Plasmodium, the infectious agent of paludism.
See also
gene mutations