Mouth Bacteria Defends against AIDS Virus
2004-5-26 13:29:46     CRIENGLISH.com
U.S. scientists have discovered that naturally occurring bacteria found in the mouth can block the HIV virus as well as cells the virus has infected.
U.S. scientists have discovered that naturally occurring bacteria found in the mouth can block the HIV virus as well as cells the virus has infected.

Researchers from the University of Illinois has identified several lactobacillus strains of naturally occurring oral bacteria, which can latch onto the sugar coating on the envelope that encases the HIV virus particle and block infection.

The same bacteria are also able to bind the sugar coating on immune cells. The binding causes cells to clump and could render those harbouring the HIV virus incapable of infecting other cells.

This new discovery may give a means of preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to infant through breast feeding.

Transmission of HIV virus from mother to child accounts for about 800,000 cases around the world every year.

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