Semen enhances the infectiousness of HIV

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141112144821.htm

Researchers have discovered why microbicides developed to prevent HIV succeed in the lab but fail in clinical trials: Semen. Semen enhances the infectiousness of HIV by causing the virus to cluster together, increasing its ability to attach to and infect cells. This effect is then sufficient to override the antiviral properties of the microbicides

In the fight against HIV, microbicides -- chemical compounds that can be applied topically to the female genital tract to protect against sexually transmitted infections -- have been touted as an effective alternative to condoms. There are many compounds with strong activity against HIV. However, while these compounds are very successful at preventing transmission of the virus in a petri dish, clinical trials using microbicides have largely failed. 

A new study from the Gladstone Institutes and the University of Ulm now reveals that this discrepancy may be due to the primary mode of transportation of the virus during sexual transmission, semen.

Semen markedly enhances the infectiousness of HIV through the presence of protein aggregates called amyloid fibrils. HIV binds to these fibrils, causing the virus to cluster together and increasing its ability to attach to and infect cells in the host -- in this case the sexual partner of the infected individual. This effect is then sufficient to increase the infectiousness of the HIV virus, thereby diminishing the antiviral properties of the microbicides.

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Hazelpad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: September 09 2014 Status: Offline Points: 6910	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hazelpad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Semen enhances the infectiousness of HIV Posted: November 17 2014 at 3:49pm
	http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141112144821.htm Researchers have discovered why microbicides developed to prevent HIV succeed in the lab but fail in clinical trials: Semen. Semen enhances the infectiousness of HIV by causing the virus to cluster together, increasing its ability to attach to and infect cells. This effect is then sufficient to override the antiviral properties of the microbicides In the fight against HIV, microbicides -- chemical compounds that can be applied topically to the female genital tract to protect against sexually transmitted infections -- have been touted as an effective alternative to condoms. There are many compounds with strong activity against HIV. However, while these compounds are very successful at preventing transmission of the virus in a petri dish, clinical trials using microbicides have largely failed. A new study from the Gladstone Institutes and the University of Ulm now reveals that this discrepancy may be due to the primary mode of transportation of the virus during sexual transmission, semen. Semen markedly enhances the infectiousness of HIV through the presence of protein aggregates called amyloid fibrils. HIV binds to these fibrils, causing the virus to cluster together and increasing its ability to attach to and infect cells in the host -- in this case the sexual partner of the infected individual. This effect is then sufficient to increase the infectiousness of the HIV virus, thereby diminishing the antiviral properties of the microbicides.