The researchers labeled HIV viruses with photo-activated fluorescent tags and were able to track the viruses as they penetrated the outermost lining of the female genital tract (the squamous epithelium) in female human tissue obtained through hysterectomy and in animal models.
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"Until now, science has really had no idea about the details of how sexual transmission of HIV actually works. The mechanism was all very murky," [Thomas] Hope, [a professor of cell and molecular biology,] said.
These findings, if confirmed in future studies, could help in the development of new microbicides and vaccines to protect women against HIV. Or help in the development and promotion of female circumcision campaigns?
HIV Can Penetrate a Woman's Healthy Genital Skin - washingtonpost.com.
