SRSLY!
Sooty mangabeys (yep, real name) are a monkey species found on the western coast of central Africa who’s unique immunity to SIV, a relative of HIV, has intrigued medical researchers for decades.
Now we know just how their immunity works.
Sooty mangabeys are able to avoid the chain of events that cause the immune system to break down, thanks to a unique type of T cell called a central memory T cell.
These sooty mangabeys might well offer a new way to help cope humans cope with HIV infection and avoid AIDS.
The key will be better understanding the mechanisms of their central memory T cells and figuring out how they avoid activating CCR5, which is the main reason why their immune systems are able to survive these infections essentially intact.
[Image via Yerkes NPRC.]