Finding May Explain A.I.D.S. Among ‘gays’ (Press, 19 December 1986)

Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have made a significant discovery regarding the A.I.D.S. virus, finding that it can infect and persist in cells from the human rectum and colon. This revelation may shed light on the high incidence of A.I.D.S. among individuals who engage in anal sex. Published in the January 1987 issue of the “Journal of Virology,” the research indicates for the first time that the virus can infect cells outside of the immune system. The researchers, including Drs Malcolm Martin and Akio Adachi, conducted their studies using cell tissue cultures, though they have not yet isolated the virus from human-colon or rectum tissues. They are in the process of acquiring samples from A.I.D.S. patients to further investigate this. Their findings suggest that infected cells in the large bowel could provide a reservoir for the virus, potentially allowing it to spread to immune system cells. Statistics indicate that approximately 70 per cent of the 28,098 A.I.D.S. cases reported in the United States are among homosexual males, a population in which many engage in anal intercourse. Health experts have suggested that the virus may enter the bloodstream of the passive partner through tissue trauma caused during anal sex. Dr Martin stated that the new research could indicate an additional route of infection tied to this behaviour, indicating that the sensitivity of colon and rectal cells to infection could be a crucial factor. For their experiments, researchers employed cancerous colon and rectal cells, as these types can be cultured for extended periods, in contrast to normal cellular forms which are difficult to maintain. They discovered that only colon and rectum cells could be infected by the A.I.D.S. virus, with the virus detected in three out of five samples tested. Previously, the virus was known to infect T-4 lymphocytes and macrophages, which are essential components of the immune system. The infection of T-4 lymphocytes leads to a compromised immune response, which is characteristic of A.I.D.S. Additionally, the researchers found that the infected colon and rectum cells produce genetic material associated with CD4, a protein not yet isolated from bowel cells but present on T-4 and other immune cells targeted by the virus. This protein is believed to facilitate the virus's ability to identify and attach itself to these target cells. The ongoing research aims to further explore the implications of these findings for understanding the transmission and infection mechanisms of A.I.D.S., particularly in relation to sexual practices.

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