Mechanisms of mucosal immunity at the female reproductive tract involved in defense against HIV infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 remains a major global health threat. Since the virus is often transmitted through sexual intercourse and women account for the majority of new infections within the most endemic regions, research on mucosal immunity at the female reproductive tract (FRT) is of paramount importance. At the FRT, there are intrinsic barriers to HIV-1 infection, such as epithelial cells and the microbiome, and immune cells of both the innate and adaptive arms are prepared to respond in case the virus overcomes the first line of defense.