Antiretroviral therapy (ART) dramatically reduces HIV transmission when used as treatment or as PrEP, but the global rate of new HIV infections currently outstrips our ability to provide ART. Most of these new HIV infections are acquired through sex, when the mucosal lining of the vagina, penis or rectum is exposed to HIV infected genital fluids. Sexual HIV transmission is surprisingly inefficient, with a per-contact risk under 1% for most exposures. Dr. Rupert Kaul's presentation focuses on how this risk is dependent on the dynamic interaction between our immune system and microbes—both HIV, other STIs and the larger microbiome—at the mucosal surfaces of the genital tract and gut, and will highlight some challenges of translating these research findings into new HIV prevention strategies.
Rupert Kaul, MD, PhD is dually trained as a clinical Infectious Disease specialist and a PhD immunologist, and is the director of the Infectious Diseases Division at the University of Toronto and University Health Network. His research is focused on the interaction between genital infections and mucosal immunology, and seeks to develop new ways to prevent and ameliorate HIV infection. This research is based in participant cohorts from Canada, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa, with the support of a University of Toronto/OHTN Endowed Chair in HIV Research.
About the Series:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of STD Prevention (DSTDP) and The American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association (ASTDA) have partnered to bring you the latest research and best practices for STD prevention with the STD Prevention Science Series.
This quarterly series brings lectures on cutting edge issues by scientists and program experts of world renown to all persons interested in the prevention of STI including HIV.
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