Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026
11:10
Genotypic Inference of HIV-1 Tropism Using Population-based Sequencing of V3
Published on: December 28, 2010
HIV receptors and cellular tropism
1Department of Immunology and Molecular Pathology, University College London, United Kingdom. r.weiss@ucl.ac.uk
IUBMB Life
|July 18, 2002
Summary
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) uses specific cell receptors like CD4 and coreceptors (CCR5 or CXCR4) for host cell entry. Understanding these HIV receptors is key to explaining viral tropism, pathogenesis, and developing treatments.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Viruses require specific cell surface receptors for host cell entry.
- Retroviruses like HIV-1 and HIV-2 bind to CD4 receptors and utilize coreceptors (CCR5 or CXCR4) for membrane fusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the role of specific cell surface receptors in HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection.
- To explain the cellular tropism and pathogenesis of HIV, including immune deficiency, wasting syndrome, and dementia.
Main Methods:
- Identification of viral entry receptors.
- Analysis of HIV-1 and HIV-2 binding and fusion mechanisms.
- Correlation of receptor usage with cellular tropism and disease manifestations.
Main Results:
- Specific receptors (CD4) and coreceptors (CCR5, CXCR4) mediate HIV entry.
- Receptor identification explains HIV's cellular tropism and pathogenesis (e.g., T-helper cell depletion, macrophage infection, microglia infection).
- HIV employs both cell surface fusion and receptor-mediated endocytosis for cell entry.
Conclusions:
- Knowledge of HIV receptors is crucial for understanding viral pathogenesis.
- Understanding HIV receptors has led to the development of antiviral drugs and insights into genetic resistance.
- This knowledge should guide the selection of effective HIV vaccine candidates.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
02:33Retroviruses
Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
01:25Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...
01:19Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...