Canadian researchers may have recently discovered an important link between the spread of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in women and its possible cure. The previous theory on the spread of HIV upheld that it used tears in the reproductive tract to access the female body. Contrary to the original theory, researchers now believe that the HIV enters the body by weakening the epithelial cells responsible for keeping viruses out of the body.
This new breakthrough on the virus’s method of entrance is important because it allows researchers that are trying to develop a cure to adopt a new strategy. Previously, researchers only attempted to stop HIV from multiplying in the blood stream, and with minimal success. Researchers have discovered that allowing the virus into the blood stream makes its removal very difficult, as the strength of the immune system is determined by the epithelial cells, which have now been discovered to be extremely weak due to the initial entrance of the virus. The new cure, then, would involve stopping HIV from being able to break down the epithelial cell walls. Specifically, this occurs because of the protein barriers around epithelial cells, which are easily broken by contact with HIV.
While this breakthrough will help research into finally putting an end to HIV, it is still important to practice safe sex. Regardless of the position, HIV can still spread through the body since epithelial cells can be found in the mouth, rectum, and reproductive tracts, among other areas.
