Only a few months ago scientists discovered what component of semen was primarily responsible for male HIV infection. Now it is time to know what happens in the case of women. A team of McMaster University (Canada) has learned a new way in which the virus enters the female body.
Neither genital ulcers or wounds. Researchers have found that it is HIV itself which alone manages to weaken epithelial cells, in charge of forming a barrier to prevent the entry of foreign organisms, and pass into the body.
The virus has developed its own strategy for ‘intimidating’ to these cells and pass through without much trouble the genital mucosa, as the authors published in the journal PLoS Pathogens. ” “This is the first time demonstrated that HIV directly attacks the functions of this gateway,” says Charu Laushic, professor of gene therapy and coordinator of this work. (more…)
