Discovery of HIV Variant Shows Virus Can Still Evolve

A variant of HIV that is faster at progressing to serious illness and more contagious than other versions of the virus has been circulating in the Netherlands for decades, researchers have found. The findings, which were recently published in the journal Science, demonstrate how HIV can mutate to create more severe disease and more rapid transmission. The study serves as a reminder — in the age of COVID variants — that viruses don't always weaken over time. "We should never underestimate the potential for viral evolution.” Learn how the discovery of the HIV variant was sparked by a curious set of samples.