Australian medical researchers have found that topical oestrogen could help prevent HIV infection by blocking entry of the virus into the human penis.

A study by Department of Zoology of the University of Melbourne has found that applying oestrogen to the penis increases the thickness of the natural keratin layer in the skin.

The study, published in PLoS ONE (PLoS One) journal Wednesday, showed that keratin on skin acts a barrier to viral infection, so increasing the keratin layer could prevent HIV from infecting the male.

HIV affects over 40 million people worldwide and is on the rise particularly in countries where males are not circumcised.

Lead researcher Professor Roger Short, of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, said using naturally occurring, weak oestrogen could enhance keratin protection.

"We have found a new avenue to possibly prevent HIV infection of the penis," the Australian Associated Press quoted him as saying.

"In countries where circumcision is not religiously or culturally accepted, oestrogen treatments to the penis could be very effective in reducing the spread of the disease," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2008)