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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Single-cell Quantitation of mRNA and Surface Protein Expression in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-infected CD4+ T Cells Isolated from Rhesus macaques

Single-cell Quantitation of mRNA and Surface Protein Expression in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-infected CD4⁺ T Cells Isolated from Rhesus macaques

Published on: September 25, 2018

HIV-1 pathogenesis: the virus.

Ronald Swanstrom¹, John Coffin

¹Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. risunc@med.unc.edu

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine

|November 13, 2012

Summary

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection evolves, altering its tropism to infect new cells like naive T cells and macrophages as immunodeficiency advances. This viral evolution leads to opportunistic infections and disease progression.

More Related Videos

Peptide-based Identification of Functional Motifs and their Binding Partners

Peptide-based Identification of Functional Motifs and their Binding Partners

Published on: June 30, 2013

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Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Single-cell Quantitation of mRNA and Surface Protein Expression in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-infected CD4+ T Cells Isolated from Rhesus macaques

Single-cell Quantitation of mRNA and Surface Protein Expression in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-infected CD4⁺ T Cells Isolated from Rhesus macaques

Published on: September 25, 2018

Peptide-based Identification of Functional Motifs and their Binding Partners

Peptide-based Identification of Functional Motifs and their Binding Partners

Published on: June 30, 2013

Area of Science:

Virology
Immunology
Cell Biology

Background:

HIV-1 establishes persistent infection primarily in lymphoid tissues, initially targeting CD4+ T cells expressing CCR5.
Most studies analyze blood samples, assuming they represent the well-mixed viral population found in tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the viral evolution of HIV-1 tropism during disease progression.
To understand how HIV-1 adapts to infect new cell types and contribute to immunodeficiency and opportunistic infections.

Main Methods:

The study proposes a model linking viral evolution pathways to observed changes in tropism and cell entry.
Analysis of viral variants and their interaction with host cell markers (CD4, CCR5, CXCR4).

Main Results:

HIV-1 evolves to switch tropism from CCR5 to CXCR4, enabling infection of naive CD4+ T cells.
The virus also adapts to infect cells with lower CD4 levels, including macrophages, particularly in the central nervous system.
Advancing immunodeficiency drives the emergence of viral variants targeting new cell types, leading to opportunistic infections.

Conclusions:

HIV-1 tropism and cell entry mechanisms evolve significantly with advancing immunodeficiency.
This viral adaptation is a key driver for the expansion of infected cell populations and the development of opportunistic infections.