HIV more easily transmitted after alcohol consumption

    Research from the University of California at Los Angeles shows that alcohol causes the cells in the oral cavity to contract HIV more easily during oral sex. This is the first time that research has been done on the influence of alcohol on HIV transmission.

    Past research has discovered that the chances of having sex without a condom are greater under the influence of alcohol, thereby increasing the risk of HIV transmission. The research mentioned above focused on the effect of alcohol on the cells in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, and discovered that alcohol can cause these cells to be three to six times more likely to become infected with HIV during oral contact after alcohol consumption.

    Researchers collected these oral mucous membrane cells from individuals without HIV and put them in contact with alcohol that matched the alcohol content of several types of beer, and then introduced fluorescent green HIV proteins to observe whether or not they infected the oral mucous membrane cells. The laboratory results showed that after 10 minutes contact with alcohol of 4% alcohol content, the rate of HIV infection of the oral mucous membrane cells increased between three and sixfold . HIV specially targets white blood cells called CD4+ cells, and in normal circumstance the membranes in the oral cavity contain relatively more white blood cells.

    HIV can "seize this type of white blood cell by both arms," and empty its own DNA into the white blood cell, causing the latter to produce more viral particles and infect more cells. CD4+ cell hosts are finally killed off by the virus, although presently scientists still do not understand the mechanism. With the reduction of CD4+ cells, the human body's immune system declines to a certain point at which the person can be diagnosed and confirmed as having AIDS.

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