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Selective transmission of CCR5-utilizing HIV-1: the 'gatekeeper' problem resolved?

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 4, pages 312–317 (2006)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 May 2006

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms of HIV-1 transmission is crucial for the development of effective preventive microbicides and vaccine strategies, and remains one of the main goals of HIV research. Over the past decade, many studies have focused on trying to identify the 'gatekeeping' mechanism that restricts the transmission of CXCR4-utilizing HIV-1 more efficiently than CCR5-utilizing HIV-1. However, to date, no study has explained the almost perfect negative selection of the former in vivo. Here, we propose that there is no single gatekeeper and that, instead, the selective transmission of R5 HIV-1 depends on the superimposition of multiple imperfect gatekeepers.

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Figure 1: Potential restriction points for mucosal transmission of CXCR4-utilizing (X4) HIV-1.
Figure 2: Two mechanisms of selective transmission of CCR5-utilizing (R5) HIV-1.

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  1. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20895, Maryland, USA

    Leonid Margolis

  2. St. George's Medical School, University of London, London, SW17 ORE, UK

    Robin Shattock

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Margolis, L., Shattock, R. Selective transmission of CCR5-utilizing HIV-1: the 'gatekeeper' problem resolved?. Nat Rev Microbiol 4, 312–317 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1387

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