title: Mucosal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Since the beginning of the AIDS pandemic, and following the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as the etiological agent of the disease, it was clear that the virus gains access to the human host predominantly through the mucosal tissue after sexual exposure. As a consequence, the female genital tract (vaginal and cervical), as well as the rectal, penile, and oral mucosae have been extensively studied over the last thirty years towards a better understanding of--and to develop strategies to prevent--sexual HIV transmission. This review seeks to describe the biology of the events leading to HIV infection through the human mucosa and introduce some of the approaches attempted to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7288, USA.
authors.forename: Denis M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tebit
authors.forename: Nicaise
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ndembi
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Miguel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Quiñones-Mateu
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000821:virology*; D010413:Penis / Q000821:virology; D012007:Rectum / Q000821:virology; D014621:Vagina / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents