HIV ‘Block’ for Heterosexuals

TRANSMISSION of the HIV virus from men to women could be blocked, it was revealed yesterday.

Scientists successfully blocked monkeys from passing on the HIV virus.

They hope the research could be used to develop a gel that could work in humans.

HIV infections are most commonly transmitted through heterosexual sex. It gets into the blood via the wall of the vagina, but how this happens is unclear.

One theory is that HIV enters cells in the immune system through specific molecules on their surface. People whose cells lack those molecules are mostly protected.

Study leader Prof Michael Lederman, of Cleveland, Ohio, used modified molecules to block the surface molecules in monkeys. He said: “We’ve taken an important step.”