The experts at University College London (UCL) have created a new model for HIV progression. Through this model researchers noted that HIV spreads through the body by two ways, the first is via the bloodstream and the second is directly between cells.

Researchers associated with the study said this method is very similar to that of how computer worms spread through both the Internet and local networks to infect as many computers as possible.

The new HIV progression model for the 'hybrid spreading' accurately predicted patients' progression from HIV to AIDS in a major clinical trial.

Researchers for the study used detailed sample data collected from 17 London-based patients, in order to verify the model.

As per experts, HIV infects CD4+ T cells. These are cells that play a very important role in the immune system and protect body from diseases.

And as the HIV advances, the number of active T cells in the body reduces until the immune system acquires a state known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

As per the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, HIV treatment should only be started after the number of T cells in the bloodstream fall below a certain level.

Co-senior author Prof. Benny Chain, UCL Infection and Immunity, said in a statement that the number of HIV cells in the bloodstream is always relatively low, and their model shows that HIV spread through the bloodstream alone would not be enough to cause AIDS.

"It is likely that when HIV gains a foothold somewhere with a high T cell population, such as the gut, it uses a cell-to-cell transfer mechanism to efficiently spread directly between them", said Chain.