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.

“The discovery may be an important step when developing vaccines and microbicides, the remaining challenges in combating the AIDS pandemic. Instead of focusing on attacking the cells where it protects HIV, who are under the epithelium, focus should be on the epithelial cells themselves, which is the first contact with the body of the virus, “added the expert.