Mechanisms of HIV-1 assembly, release and maturation

Over the past decade, major advances in structural biology and in vitro and cell-based technologies have enhanced our understanding of HIV-1 assembly, release and maturation. The cryo-electron microscopy revolution, alongside developments in single-molecule approaches and live-cell imaging techniques, have enabled researchers to visualize biological complexes at remarkably high resolution, reconstitute biochemical processes under physiologically relevant conditions and directly observe these processes in cells and virions. Effective integration of these methods with both classical and novel molecular virology approaches has yielded a wealth of basic knowledge that has driven the development of potent inhibitors targeting virus maturation and highlighted mechanisms by which events that take place late in the virus replication cycle prime newly formed virus particles for infection of a new host cell. This Review outlines the recent progress in elucidating the molecular underpinnings of the late stages of the HIV-1 replication cycle and highlights the interplay between virology, host cell biology and the development of antiretroviral compounds with therapeutic potential.