French Kissing - will it lead to STD?

[Lowell]

An article in the Journal of the American Dental Association (Vol. 118, June 1989) concludes that "saliva from healthy men, women, and children contained a factor that inhibits HIV-1 infection of lymphocytes [white blood cells]. This finding is consistent with the documented low risk of oral transmission of this virus and the infrequent isolation of HIV-1 from human oral fluids."

In their study, researchers took samples of saliva from uninfected people - nine women, nine men, and seven children - and from nine HIV-positive men. Each sample of saliva was incubated with concentrated HIV-1 for one hour, after which time lymphocytes were added to the saliva-virus mixture for another hour. The researchers then tested the mixtures three times, starting on the eighth day, looking for signs that the virus was replicating.

The saliva from all the women and children and from the majority of men completely protected the lymphocytes against infection with the virus. Three uninfected and two HIV-positive men had "substantial, partial inhibitory activity." Even when the saliva was diluted by a factor of 20 to 1, 50% of its inhibitory activity remained.

Among the authors' conclusions is a statement that has major implications for therapy: "The inhibitory activity displays an important characteristic of a pharmacological agent." This suggests that the as-yet unknown protective factor - probably a large protein molecule - may offer an important clue to the identification of a "natural, nontoxic [antiviral] product."

If identified, such a molecule could form the basis of an agent capable of protecting cells against HIV, and it would offer some insight into the mechanism by which the virus is neutralized, says Dr. Phillip Fox, chief of the clinical investigative section that conducted the research. To that end, four studies have been funded to continue the work.

"Based on what we've seen and the number of years of experience, there is enough background to see that [oral activity] isn't a route of transmission," Fox says. "To my mind it makes sense that this fluid - saliva - which definately contains the virus, is not transmitting it."

Because semen, saliva, and breast milk have all been shown to contain inconsistent, low levels of HIV, it seems sensible to look at the more clear-cut instance of uninfected babies being nursed by HIV-positive mothers, where the only risk factor was the baby's nursing.

Pediatric immunologist James Oleske of Newark, N.J., who was one of the first to identify AIDS in children, has criticized the CDC's recommentation that HIV-positive women not breast-feed their infants. "This is a typical overresponse," he says. "Yes, factors in saliva seem to inhibit HIV, which is just one more bit of evidence that you don't get AIDS through oral exposure very frequently."

Oleske knows of two European cases in which babies who became infected by transfusion after birth and were being breast-fed have infected their mothers. In both instances the children were teething and the mothers' nipples were cracked, creating a blood-blood rather than simply oral route of transmission.

http://www.gaylib.com/aids/aids22.htm

[Big Sexy]

hmm.. can it be...

saliva is less likely to cause infection than blood or other body fluids. = true.

saliva neutralises the HIV virus = to a certain degree..yes. but to say it in general ...is misleading.

------------------
In those saliva samples in which virus can be found, the concentration of virus is much lower than in blood, semen, or the already low concentrations found in vaginal or cervical secretions.

The low concentration of virus in saliva may mean that saliva is less likely to cause infection than blood or other body fluids.
--------------------------
http://thailabonline.com/myforum/sho...6&fid=23&tid=0

http://www.thebody.com/oralsex.html

Originally Posted by Lowell

http://www.gaylib.com/aids/aids22.htm

[tittyhawk]

Originally Posted by Big Sexy

hmm.. can it be...
saliva is less likely to cause infection than blood or other body fluids. = true.
saliva neutralises the HIV virus = to a certain degree..yes. but to say it in general ...is misleading.
http://thailabonline.com/myforum/sho...6&fid=23&tid=0
http://www.thebody.com/oralsex.html

Yea I've read some article that saliva contains something to neturalize the virus, but it aint proven yet....bro BS u very resourceful and up-to-date.

[tokkon1]

Originally Posted by tittyhawk

Yea I've read some article that saliva contains something to neturalize the virus, but it aint proven yet....bro BS u very resourceful and up-to-date.

I think the key 'word' here is INHIBIT rather than NEUTRALIZE. Saliva is nature's panacea to heal wounds and combat malignant bacteria, germs and other harmful foreign bodies. That's why animals lick their wounds to heal them.

[tittyhawk]

Originally Posted by +++kon1

I think the key 'word' here is INHIBIT rather than NEUTRALIZE. Saliva is nature's panacea to heal wounds and combat malignant bacteria, germs and other harmful foreign bodies. That's why animals lick their wounds to heal them.

Yes, u got the right vocab...thanks bro.

[tokkon1]

Originally Posted by tittyhawk

Yes, u got the right vocab...thanks bro.

Hey bro...u gg to change yr nick to 'Anti-Christ'..keke...hint..yr rep points.