Cell's unexpected new discovery: HIV is not what we think it is

Using powerful tools and techniques developed in the field of structural biology, researchers at the University of Washington have uncovered new details about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

These detailed findings include a 3D view of the structure and location of the viral envelope "spike" protein (the Env protein that the virus uses when it binds to cells) in the context of an intact virus

"We're looking at the entire virion, and how the proteins on the surface are connected to the rest of the virus," said Kelly Lee, the study's first author and an associate professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Washington's School of Pharmacy

This complete map of the virus also gave scientists new insights into the location of the envelope spike protein on the surface relative to the internal protein structure, known as the Gag lattice

"This finding overturns previous models of how the parts of the virus assemble and helps us focus our attention on the interactions where the two proteins might be docked," Lee said

It was this particular finding that led to the paper, "Cryo-ET of Env on intact HIV virions reveals structural variations and positioning on the Gag lattice," published Feb.

"Structural biology has driven the design of HIV vaccines, so when we gain a better understanding of our targets, this can spur innovation and potentially lead to improved vaccines," says Scripps Institute for Immunology and Microbiology Associate Professor and co-corresponding author Michael Zwick said

The HIV virus' envelope is a particularly difficult target for vaccine development, Zwick added, because the virus has few spikes and camouflages them with sugar molecules to evade our immune system

"All of these features increase the dynamic variability that the HIV spike protein presents to the immune system," said Lee, who also leads a University of Washington lab that studies virus structure and dynamics

In fact, in February of this year, a more deadly form of HIV was discovered in the Netherlands

"It's another reminder that these viruses are always changing, so we need scientists to keep studying them," Zwick said

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Cryo-ET of Env on intact HIV virions reveals structural variation and positioning on the Gag lattice