Why some women get HIV while others don’t

It has always been a puzzle why some women are not infected with the deadly HIV even after continuous exposure to the virus through unprotected sex with infected partners. This puzzle appears to have been solved by American scientists. According to a recent study, some women produce an impenetrable defense against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in their vaginas.

In the study published in the American Society for Microbiology’s online journal, mBio, the researchers found that women who appeared naturally immune to HIV were able to trap and eject the human immunodeficiency virus using their vaginal mucus before it penetrated their vaginal wall cells. Such women appeared to have a specific strain of bacteria in their vaginal mucus that made them less likely to contract HIV and other STIs than women who did not have that bacteria.

ORGANIC BARRIER

The researchers examined and tested the vaginal mucus of 31 women of reproductive age to see how it immobilised the HI virus. They found that some vaginal mucus was found to be more effective in trapping and immobilising the virus. This mucus contained mucus that contained higher levels of a specific bacteria (Lactobacillus crispatus).

This bacteria is what formed an organic barrier or biological condom against viral infections. On the other hand, the vaginal mucus that was not effective against HIV contained a different kind of bacteria or multiple types of bacteria. Women with such bacteria were also at risk of contracting other viral infections like herpes.

“Women with these two types of bacteria should be made aware that they are more at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection,” said Dr Sam Lai, who led the study.

The researchers noted that the ability to trap an incoming HIV virus was not associated with vaginal health. They also noted that the barrier properties can vary at different times in the same woman.

The scientists were quick to point out that while some women’s biological make up tended to be more favourable than that of other women, this biological condom could work for all women simply by altering the bacteria contained in their vaginal mucus.

This revelation raises hope that someday scientists will come up with a biological condom for use by all women, leading to effortlessly safer sex without rubber.