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Nature 441, 817-818 (15 June 2006) | doi:10.1038/441817a; Published online 14 June 2006

Structural biology: Images from the surface of HIV

Dennis R. Burton1

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Human and monkey immunodeficiency viruses are studded with 'spikes' that enable them to infect cells. Structural studies reveal that these spikes are tripod-like assemblies that cluster on the virus surface.

Newly produced HIV particles are in limbo between life and death, their fate determined by whether protruding structures — 'spikes' — on their surface make contact with receptors on the surface of white blood cells, in particular a subset known as CD4+ T cells. If a productive contact is made, a molecular sequence is triggered that results in the genetic material of the virus being injected into the target cell.