Helper T cells play a critical role in our immune systems, helping us fend off infections from bacteria and fungi.  They are also the host cell for HIV, and the loss of these important cells can lead to AIDS.

The small green dot to the left of the T cell is a HIV particle, shown to scale

About HIV

Approximately 35 million people in the world are currently infected with HIV/AIDS, including over 3 million children. Each year, an additional 2 million people are newly infected with the virus. In the United States, over 1 million people are HIV-infected, and it is estimated that one in six are not aware that they are carrying HIV.

HIV infection can occur when an HIV virus reaches the mucosal membranes or the bloodstream of an individual. The virus is able to recognize and infect certain types of immune cells, particularly targeting cells known as helper T cells, or CD4+ T cells. Helper T cells play a crucial role in defending the body against bacterial and fungal infections.

During the first stage of HIV infection, called the acute infection stage, large amounts of virus are produced in helper T cells, destroying many of these cells in the process.

People often report having flu-like symptoms, such as fever, sore throat, and body aches, in addition to a skin rash during this early stage of infection.  Eventually, levels of the virus and helper T cells stabilize, and the infected individual experiences fewer symptoms.

Within a few months after the initial infection, viral loads are generally low and can remain at low levels for years, even without treatment.

Over time, however, the amount of virus increases, and the levels of helper T cells decrease. When the T cell count drops low enough, individuals are much more prone to opportunistic infection. This stage of HIV infection is known as AIDS.

Overview of HIV-1 Life Cycle

Entry and Reverse Transcription

Like other viruses, HIV infects host cells with the goal of producing more viruses. HIV targets cells of the immune system, and in particular, T-cells, which are a type of white blood cell. During the first stage of the HIV life cycle, a virus enters the body and then identifies a host T-cell through interactions between receptor proteins (called CD4) on the T-cell surface and viral envelope proteins (Env) on the surface of the viral membrane. A second T-cell surface protein, called a coreceptor (specifically, CCR5 or CXCR4), also binds to Env proteins, triggering major shape changes in Env and leading to the fusion of the viral and host cell membranes. Subsequently, the conical HIV capsid, which contains two copies of the viral genome as single-stranded RNAs, is deposited into the host cell. Soon after the HIV capsid enters, the viral RNA genome begins to be copied into double-stranded DNA, a process known as reverse transcription. Reverse transcription is carried out by a viral protein called reverse transcriptase (RT), using host tRNAs to help prime the reaction and dNTPs to build new DNA strands. The animation shown to the right details the steps involved during reserve transcription. Meanwhile, the HIV capsid is transported to the nucleus through interactions with microtubule-based motor proteins.

Animation created by Shaza Abdelrasoul (HCI PathMakers Scholar 2024)

Integration and Transcription

HIV is a retrovirus, and one of the characteristics of this type of virus is the integration of their genome into that of the host. Integration is carried out by a viral protein called integrase. Once inside the nucleus, reverse transcription is completed. The capsid shell breaks apart, releasing the double-stranded DNA copy of the HIV genome. Integrase then binds and cuts a segment of nearby host DNA and inserts the viral DNA At this site. In some cells, viral proteins start being produced soon after integration, while in other cells, the viral DNA lies dormant for days, months, or even years. When the viral DNA becomes activated (or the viral DNA is transcribed), it serves as the blueprint to transform the cell into a viral factory. While some viral RNAs go on to ribosomes to be read and direct the production of viral proteins, other viral RNAs are shuttled to the plasma membrane, where they are packaged into new virions.

Illustration created by Janet Iwasa; Updates done by Trish Luu

HIV Assembly, Budding, and Maturation

Once the different viral components are built by the infected cell, they must be assembled and released at the plasma membrane. These components include two identical copies of the RNA genome, tRNAs from the host cell, and many copies of Env protein (which is embedded in the plasma membrane), Gag polyprotein, viral protease, RTs, and integrases. 

The formation of a new HIV virus consists of three major stages:

1) Assembly. During this stage, different components are recruited to specific sites on the plasma membrane. Gag polyprotein is a key component that largely directs the assembly of an infectious particle. While one end of Gag binds to the RNA genome, the other end binds to the plasma membrane. Thousands of Gags assemble and become tightly packed during assembly.

2) Budding and Release. Packing of Gag polyproteins causes the plasma membrane to start to bulge out, eventually forming a spherical particle that resembles a lollipop. At this point, proteins known as ESCRTs are recruited and cut the plasma membrane “neck,” releasing the virus from the cell.

3) Maturation. The Gag polyprotein is basically multiple different viral proteins connected by short linkers. During maturation, Gag polyprotein is cut and separated, a process carried out by HIV protease. This results in the release of matrix protein (MA), which binds to the cell membrane and is responsible for recruiting viral Env protein to the budding site, capsid protein (CA), which forms the conical capsid shell, nucleocapsid protein (NC), which binds and condenses the viral RNA genome, and p6 proteins, which plays a role in viral budding. During maturation, CA proteins form a conical shell around the HIV genome.

  • Craigie R, Bushman FD. HIV DNA integration. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012 Jul;2(7):a006890. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a006890. PMID: 22762018; PMCID: PMC3385939.

    Sundquist WI, Kräusslich HG. HIV-1 assembly, budding, and maturation. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012 Jul;2(7):a006924. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a006924.

    Wilen CB, Tilton JC, Doms RW. HIV: cell binding and entry. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012 Aug 1;2(8):a006866. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a006866. PMID: 22908191; PMCID: PMC3405824.

How does HIV infection occur? The following molecular animation depicts the process of how HIV infects a T cell and transforms the cell into a viral factory.

Please note that the animation shown here is a work-in-progress, and will be further updated, refined and augmented over the coming years.  Additional animations will illustrate how antiretroviral drugs impact the life cycle, and how innate immunity can block HIV infection.

Credits:
Animated and narrated by Janet Iwasa (Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah)
Updates to reverse transcription and integration steps by Grace Hsu
Music written and performed by Joshua Roman
Music recorded by Jesse Lewis (Immersive Music Project)