WASHINGTON, 29 Aug (AFP) - The AIDS virus known for its ability to destroy T-cells of the human immune system also can attach itself to B-cells in blood and thus spread throughout the body, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The results of the research appear in the September issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

"This study enhances our understanding of how HIV persists in the body and might partly explain the abnormalities seen in B-cell function in people with HIV infection," said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Explaining the findings, Susan Moir, one of the authors of the study, said that "HIV does not appear to reproduce inside B-cells, but rather hitches a ride on the cell surface so it is free to jump to nearby T-cells."

According to Moir, that explains why B-cells in people affected by the AIDS virus malfunction and often produce an excessive amount of antibodies.

"This research opens a new opportunity for better understanding the complex nature of the disease," said Moir.

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