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From: U14663%UICVM.BITNET@mvs.oac.ucla.edu (Richard A. Murphy [phone (312)996-8630])
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: (3165) life cycle, methods of infection
Message-ID: <1991May23.021043.12184@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 22 May 91 17:54:51 GMT
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Archive-Number: 3171

> Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
> Approved: ddodell@stjhmc.fidonet.org (David Dodell)
> Subject: life cycle, methods of infection
> Date: 21 May 91 19:41:28 GMT
> Distribution: sci
> Note:	Copyright 1990 by Daniel R. Greening.  Permission granted for
> Note:	non-commercial reproduction.
> Archive-number: 3165
>
> I have a couple of questions:
> 	* can someone tell me the life cycle of a virus in general,
> 	  does it also apply to the aids virus?
 Perhaps someone else can give you a better answer but.....   Viruses are

not alive so they have no life cycle as such.  They do have a pattern of
infection of a cell and liberation from the cell.  Typically the virus
attaches to the cell, enters the cell, if necessary it also enters the
nucleus, it reproduces its genetic material, it may produce its coat material
in the cell or it may incorporate cell wall material in its coat in the next
stage which is release from the cell.  All of these "stages" take place
according to a schedule or due to certain conditions.  However, we don't
always know what the schedule or conditions are that are necessary to
move to the next stage.
>
> 	* regarding methods of infection, is it safe to perform fellatio
> 	  up to the point of ejaculation?  In particular, there is a
> 	  clear, sticky fluid that comes out of the penis before ejaculation,
> 	  could this also carry the aids virus?
Yes, the preejaculate "precum" contains the virus.
>
> 	* does stomach acid kill the aids virus?  This might sound
> 	  silly but I have a friend who is an occasional prostitute
> 	  and makes this claim.
It probably does.  I don't know for sure but maybe someone else can give
a definite answer.  However, the virus containing fluids (precum,
semen, vaginal fluids, blood, breast milk, etc.) have to come in contact
with a lot of mucosal tissue before they get to the stomach.
>
> 	* regarding my friend, her clients are exclusively well to do
> 	  men she is referred to thru friends, she sees them about
> 	  once or twice a week.  Obviously she is not in the same risk
> 	  category as a woman who works the street, but can we say
> 	  anything about her risks?
If all the men are unquestionably monogamous with her and with their
wives, and their wives are all unquestionably monogamous with their
husbands, and both husbands and wives have *never* been unfaithful with
anyone else, her risks are low.  Would I believe that that condition
exists?  NO!
>
> 	* is it easier for a man or a woman to contact aids?
It is generally believed that the virus has a greater chance of infection
if there is some, possibly very small, break in the mucous membranes that
come in contact with the virus-laden fluids.  Anything that might create
such a condition would enhance infectivity.  Anal sex (penis in rectum)
can abrade the sensitive rectal tissues more than can vaginal sex (penis
in vagina).  Oral sex (penis in mouth) may, if vigorous enough, do the
same.  So, basically, the virus is most readily transmitted *from* the
penis, whether the recipient is a man or woman.  That in no way means
that one can't get the virus from a woman (girl) as this his been shown
to happen and is being found much more often than previously observed.
> I appreciate any feed back anyone can give me on these questions.
> 	thanks, greg s.
>
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