Mechanisms of sexual transmission of HIV: does HIV infect intact epithelia?
The prevailing view of sexual transmission of HIV has been that the virus enters the body through lesions in the epithelium of the genital tract. We propose that transmission of HIV can occur via the infection of intact epithelial cells, and that it is mediated by HIV-infected mononuclear cells in genital-tract secretions.
Phillips
D M
DM
Population Council, New York, NY 10021.
Zacharopoulos
V R
VR
Tan
X
X
Pearce-Pratt
R
R
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004848:Epithelium / Q000821:virology; D005835:Genitalia / Q000821:virology*; D006678:HIV / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology