Furthermore, it has been shown that CD4+ cells are the first cells that become infected within 24 hours of infection during HIV‐1 transmission across cervical mucosa.33, 61 Altogether these data are consistent with a model (Figure 6) for NG‐induced enhancement of HIV‐1 transmission: NG infection leads to secretion of IL‐1β, which induces production of epithelial CXCL10 and IL‐8. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is infection.