HIV vaccine and genital secretory immune response.

This review will summarize the function of the normal mucosal immune system and will highlight its role in the heterosexual transmission of HIV. The discussion of reproductive system mucosal immunity will be limited to the female genital tract with the understanding that this is only half of the story. An excellent review of the mucosal immune system in the male genital tract and its implications on the transmission of HIV has recently been published. As emphasized in recent editorials, a better understanding of genital mucosal immunity will ultimately allow us to manipulate the mucosal immune system and, hopefully, design vaccines to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV.