Fig. (3) Schematic diagram showing the suggested initial events occurring in the foreskin
during HIV (type-1) transmission. (Left) In inner foreskin, while
cell-free HIV-1 and lightly HIV-1 infected cells unlikely to initiate and
disseminate infection through inner foreskin, the cells infected heavily with
virus easily infects the target LC cells in epidermis and disseminate infection
at dermis through DCs and T cells (1-6).
(Right) In
outer foreskin,
both newly budded HIV-1 particles and cell-free HIV-1 virions remain trapped
within the thick layer of keratin at OFS limiting virus entry into the epidermis
and infection being disseminated (7-9). (Reproduced with permission) [22].