What infants and breasts can teach us about natural protection from HIV infection.
Most individuals exposed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), adults and children alike, do not become infected. Understanding the basis of this protection depends on systematically and comprehensively defining factors that determine the infectiousness of the host and the susceptibility of the recipient. Successful transmission depends on the relative balance between infectiousness and susceptibility, both of which are influenced by biologic, behavioral, and environmental factors. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of mother&#x2010;to&#x2010;child HIV transmission as a model in which to elucidate correlates of immune protection.
Aldrovandi
Grace M
GM
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. galdrovandi@chla.usc.edu
Kuhn
Louise
L
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States