Vaginal bacteria that can protect women from HIV
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New York: Researchers have identified a type of vaginal bacteria that can protect women from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as other sexually transmitted infections.
The vaginal microbiota has long been considered healthy if it was dominated by any species of lactobacillus, said senior author of the study Sam Lai, assistant professor at Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the US.
The researchers found that a specific species of lactobacillus -- lactobacillus crispatus -- appears to play a key role in sustaining the mucus barrier against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The findings, Lai said, that could lead to the development of new strategies to protect women against HIV.
"What we discovered is that a woman's risk of being infected by HIV can be affected by the type of helpful bacteria present in vaginal mucus," Lai said.
IANS
The vaginal microbiota has long been considered healthy if it was dominated by any species of lactobacillus, said senior author of the study Sam Lai, assistant professor at Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the US.
The researchers found that a specific species of lactobacillus -- lactobacillus crispatus -- appears to play a key role in sustaining the mucus barrier against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The findings, Lai said, that could lead to the development of new strategies to protect women against HIV.
"What we discovered is that a woman's risk of being infected by HIV can be affected by the type of helpful bacteria present in vaginal mucus," Lai said.
IANS
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