ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996             TAG: 9609270071
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL   PAGE: A-3  EDITION: METRO 

SOME WHITES ARE IMMUNE TO AIDS VIRUS

A small portion of the Caucasian population is genetically protected from ever becoming infected with AIDS, scientists reported today.

Researchers did not find this protection among any of the black Americans they studied, suggesting the genetic trait has traveled mainly among whites.

``This opens up a whole new avenue for designing both diagnostics and therapies,'' said Dr. Stephen O'Brien, leader of the AIDS genetics research team at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick. He is the senior author of a study appearing in today's edition of the journal Science.

- The Baltimore Sun

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