Data May Help on AIDS

Scientists said that they have discovered the complete genetic structure of two viruses believed to cause AIDS, a finding that is expected to help in the detection, prevention and treatment of the deadly disease. A team of scientists from the National Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School and two commercial laboratories mapped the genetic structure of HTLV 3, which they believe to be the cause of AIDS. In France, another group working separately discovered the blueprint of another variation of the virus, which it called LAV. Testing revealed the two viruses to be nearly identical.