Likewise, 91% of the strains is not necessarily the same as 91% of the people currently living with HIV. Can anyone provide details on what, exactly, this finding does? Do we need to kill 100% of the HIV strains to have a cure? Is there one strain that is the "dangerous" one, and it isn't covered in the 91% number? Will the virus simply mutate new strains?
I'd assume it means 91% of strains of HIV. It means that the odds that someone has a vulnerable strain is greatly increased and thus you can heal more people.
HIV has a few limits, firstly (I think) it only infects one type of cell (CD4 immune cells - white blood cells), secondly, it doesn't spread as easy as influenza, you need to exchange some bodily fluids with someone, preferably with an abundant supply of CD4 cells to infect. Since it generally requires sex to get HIV, if you knock out 91% of strains the other strains wont rush in to fill the vacuum.
The resistant strains already present will almost certainly increases as a proportion of the HIV population, its just natural selection. Use of condoms can prevent people from getting the resistant strains. Interestingly, male circumcision is also an excellent way to reduce chances of HIV infection because there will be less CD4 cells in your penis.
