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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Isolation of Lymphocytes from Mouse Genital Tract Mucosa
Published on: September 3, 2012
Mucosal immunity in the female genital tract, HIV/AIDS
Juliana Reis Machado1, Marcos Vinícius da Silva2, Camila Lourencini Cavellani1
1Discipline of General Pathology, Nephropathology Service, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Rua Frei Paulino n° 30, Bairro Abadia, 38025-180 Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Abstract:
Mucosal immunity consists of innate and adaptive immune responses which can be influenced by systemic immunity. Despite having been the subject of intensive studies, it is not fully elucidated what exactly occurs after HIV contact with the female genital tract mucosa. The sexual route is the main route of HIV transmission, with an increased risk of infection in women compared to men. Several characteristics of the female genital tract make it suitable for inoculation, establishment of infection, and systemic spread of the virus, which causes local changes that may favor the development of infections by other pathogens, often called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The relationship of these STDs with HIV infection has been widely studied. Here we review the characteristics of mucosal immunity of the female genital tract, its alterations due to HIV/AIDS, and the characteristics of coinfections between HIV/AIDS and the most prevalent STDs.
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