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Letter

Nature Cell Biology 10, 211–219 (1 February 2008) | doi:10.1038/ncb1682

Membrane nanotubes physically connect T cells over long distances presenting a novel route for HIV-1 transmission

Stefanie Sowinski , Clare Jolly , Otto Berninghausen , Marco A. Purbhoo , Anne Chauveau , Karsten K|[ouml]|hler , Stephane Oddos , Philipp Eissmann , Frances M. Brodsky , Colin Hopkins , Bj|[ouml]|rn |[Ouml]|nfelt , Quentin Sattentau & Daniel M. Davis

Transmission of HIV-1 via intercellular connections has been estimated as 100–1000 times more efficient than a cell-free process, perhaps in part explaining persistent viral spread in the presence of neutralizing antibodies. Such effective intercellular transfer of HIV-1 could occur through virological synapses or target-cell filopodia connected to infected cells.