MECHANISM OF HIV PENETRATION

Abstract

Prevention of human immunodeficiency virus transmission through intercourse consists in combining highly effective biomedical, behavioural, and structural interventions. The purpose of this review was to summarize our own and global studies on the sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus through the mucous membranes of the genital organs. Global reports of the United Nations agency on the fight against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, statistical reports of individual countries (in particular, Ukraine), materials of the World Health Organization for the period from 2000 to 2018 were analyzed. Improving and implementing measures to prevent the sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus are extremely necessary to halt the global epidemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and to finally overcome it. Studies on animal models and the investigation of acute infection pathogenesis in humans have revealed vulnerabilities in the behaviour of the virus during penetration through the mucous membrane of the genital organs in the very early stages of infection. The data obtained open up new directions for the use of prophylactic vaccines and antiretroviral drugs to prevent the development of systemic infection, with the depletion of CD4 T cells. These studies enabled us to conclude that prevention strategies should target the earliest stages of infection for the following reasons: the vulnerability of the virus, which at an early stage is located in small populations of the founding cells at the site of entry for the infection; in order to develop as a systemic infection, the local spread of the virus is first necessary; the adverse effects that develop rapidly are associated only with a systemic infection. Thus, in near future, the effectiveness of the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus transmitted through sexual intercourse will depend on the solution of scientific and practical issues of immunology.