In the genital epithelium, they appear to have conflicting functions in terms of HIV pathogenesis: they are one of the primary targets of HIV infection,18 while also forming a protective barrier against infection and transmission by capture of HIV through the C-type lectin langerin, leading to degradation of the virus in the Birbeck granules, which are characteristic of Langerhan cells.19,20. This evidence concerns the gene CD207 and HIV infectious disease.