Title |
The biology of how circumcision reduces HIV susceptibility: broader implications for the prevention field
|
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Published in |
AIDS Research and Therapy, September 2017
|
DOI | 10.1186/s12981-017-0167-6 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Jessica L. Prodger, Rupert Kaul |
Abstract |
Circumcision reduces heterosexual HIV-1 acquisition in men by at least 60%. However, the biological mechanisms by which circumcision is protective remain incompletely understood. We test the hypothesis that the sub-preputial microenvironment created by the foreskin drives immune activation in adjacent foreskin tissues, facilitating HIV-1 infection through a combination of epithelial barrier disruption, enhanced dendritic cell maturation, and the recruitment/activation of neutrophils and susceptible CD4 T cell subsets such as Th17 cells. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the genital microbiome may be an important driver of this immune activation. This suggests that new modalities to reduce genital immune activation and/or alter the genital microbiome, used alone or in combination with topical microbicides, may be of significant benefit to HIV prevention. |
X Demographics
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Kenya | 6 | 8% |
South Africa | 3 | 4% |
United Kingdom | 3 | 4% |
Germany | 2 | 3% |
Brazil | 2 | 3% |
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South Sudan | 1 | 1% |
Other | 4 | 5% |
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Demographic breakdown
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Scientists | 3 | 4% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 2 | 3% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 3% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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Unknown | 98 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Bachelor | 19 | 19% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 13 | 13% |
Student > Master | 11 | 11% |
Student > Postgraduate | 8 | 8% |
Researcher | 6 | 6% |
Other | 17 | 17% |
Unknown | 24 | 24% |
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Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 9 | 9% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 7 | 7% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 6 | 6% |
Other | 19 | 19% |
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