HIV-1 at the immunological and T-lymphocytic virological synapse.
Cell-cell transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is considered the most effective mode of viral spread in T-lymphocyte cultures. Evidence has accumulated that HIV-1 assembles polarized synaptic-like structures, referred to as virological synapses, as specialized sites of viral transfer. Interestingly, it was recently also discovered that HIV-1 impairs the formation of the structurally similar immunological synapse, thereby modulating exogenous T-lymphocyte stimulation to yield an optimal activation state for productive HIV-1 infection. The careful dissection of these opposing effects will contribute to our understanding of retroviral spread and cellular signal transduction machineries.
Haller
Claudia
C
Department of Virology, University of Heidelberg, INF 324, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Fackler
Oliver T
OT
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology