[For a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in vertical transmission of HIV]
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Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers
Published on: March 8, 2012
Gaël Vidricaire1, Michel J Tremblay
1Laboratoire d'immunorétrovirologie humaine, Centre de recherche en infectiologie, Hôpital CHUL, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Département de biologie médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Canada.
Maternal-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) is the primary cause of this retrovirus infection in neonates. The mechanisms of vertical transmission of HIV, in particular in utero transmission, remain poorly defined. Trophoblastic cells from the placenta are thought to be a target of HIV infection and/or may be utilized by the virus to be transported across the placental barrier by a process known as transcytosis. The vertical transmission of HIV (via infection or transcytosis) may be either favoured or inhibited by factors related to both the viral phenotype and the cellular environment.
Maternal-infant transmission of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) is the primary cause of this retrovirus infection in neonates. The mechanisms of vertical transmission of HIV, in particular in utero transmission, remain poorly defined. Trophoblastic cells from the placenta are thought to be a target of HIV infection and/or may be utilized by the virus to be transported across the placental barrier by a process known as transcytosis. The vertical transmission of HIV (via infection or transcytosis) may be either favoured or inhibited by factors related to both the viral phenotype and the cellular environment.
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