Work

Vpr and Vpu Are Important for Efficient Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication and CD4 + T-Cell Depletion in Human Lymphoid Tissue Ex Vivo

Year: 2004

Type: article

Abstract: The relevance of the accessory vpr, vpu, and nef genes for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in human lymphoid tissue (HLT), the major site of viral replication in vivo, is largely unknown. Here, we show that an individual deletion of nef, vpr, or vpu significantly decreases HIV-1 replication and prevents CD4+ T-cell depletion in ex vivo HLT. However, only combined defects in all three accessory genes entirely disrupt the replicative capacity of HIV-1. Our results demonstrate that nef, vpr, and vpu are all essential for efficient viral spread in HLT, suggesting an important role in AIDS pathogenesis.

Source: Journal of Virology

DOI: 10.1128/jvi.78.22.12689-12693.2004

Authors: Elke Rücker, Jean-Charles Grivel, Jan Münch, Frank Kirchhoff, Leonid Margolis

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, Universität Ulm, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Language: English

Topic: HIV Research and Treatment

Subfield: Virology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft