title: Dangerous liaisons at the virological synapse.
abstract: Cell-to-cell viral transmission facilitates the propagation of HIV-1 and human T cell leukemia virus type 1. Mechanisms of cell-to-cell transmission by retroviruses were not well understood until the recent description of virological synapses (VSs). VSs function as specialized sites of immune cell-to-cell contact that direct virus infection. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of VS formation provides a fascinating insight into how pathogens subvert immune cell communication programs and achieve viral spread.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. vincent.piguet@medecine.unige.ch
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piguet
authors.forename: Quentin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sattentau
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000821:virology; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication