title: The HIV-1 Entry Process: A Stoichiometric View.
abstract: HIV-1 infection starts with fusion of the viral and the host cell membranes, a process mediated by the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer. The number of trimers required to complete membrane fusion, referred to as HIV-1 entry stoichiometry, remains under debate. A precise definition of HIV-1 entry stoichiometry is important as it reflects the efficacy of the viral entry process and steers the infectivity of HIV-1 virion populations. Initial estimates suggested a unanimous entry stoichiometry across HIV-1 strains while recent findings showed that HIV-1 strains can differ in entry stoichiometry. Here, we review current analyses of HIV-1 entry stoichiometry and point out future research directions to further define the interplay between entry stoichiometry, virus entry fitness, transmission, and susceptibility to antibody neutralization.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland; Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
authors.forename: Oliver F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Brandenberg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Universitätsstrasse 16, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Regoes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: trkola.alexandra@virology.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trkola
mesh_terms: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D018448:Models, Immunological; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000276:immunology; D053586:Virus Internalization
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins
keywords: HIV-1 entry; HIV-1 transmission; antibody neutralization; envelope trimer; membrane fusion; stoichiometry