
Treatment GuideJust DiagnosedSex & DatingAfrican AmericanStigmaAsk the HIV DocPrEP En EspañolNewsVoicesPrint IssueVideo
CONTACTCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Don’t miss our latest news! Sign up today for our free newsletter.
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Exposing cells from the mouth to alcohol'even at concentrations similar to those in beer and wine'can make them more suspectible to HIV infection, according to a study in the December 1 issue of Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, Dental Institute exposed oral epithelial cells from HIV-negative adults to various concentrations of ethanol, then exposed them to a strain of HIV engineered to be easily detectable. Cells exposed to a 4% alcohol solution'similar to the concentration in beer'for 10 minutes showed a three-fold to six-fold greater susceptibility to infection than unexposed cells. Further analysis showed the boosted infection risk was linked directly to alcohol's effect on the cells and not on the virus. The researchers say they are unclear how HIV entered the cells, since they lack a key receptor necessary for HIV attachment. They theorize, though, that alcohol either alters the cellular membranes to allow viral entry or interacts with key proteins to enable cellular fusion and infection.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Don’t miss our latest news! Sign up today for our free newsletter.
Plus: Featured Video
Latest Stories
‘Kokomo City’ Gives a Searing Look Into Lives of Black Trans Sex Workers
August 18 2023 12:40 PM