title: Characteristics and quantities of HIV host cells in human genital tract secretions.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected leukocytes have been detected in genital secretions from HIV-infected men and women and may play an important role in the sexual transmission of HIV. However, they have been largely overlooked in studies on mechanisms of HIV transmission and in the design and testing of HIV vaccine and microbicide candidates. This article describes the characteristics and quantities of leukocytes in male and female genital secretions under various conditions and also reviews evidence for the involvement of HIV-infected cells in both horizontal and vertical cell-associated HIV transmission. Additional research is needed in this area to better target HIV prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Politch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marathe
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000503:physiopathology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology
keywords: AIDS; HIV; cell-associated; infected leukocytes; mucosal; rectum; semen; transmission; vagina