Capsid-dependent lentiviral restrictions

TL;DR

This paper reviews how host proteins block lentiviruses like HIV by targeting the viral capsid and outlines methods to discover new antiviral genes.

Contribution

The paper outlines current methodologies suitable for identifying unknown antiviral genes that restrict lentiviral infection.

Findings

Host antiviral proteins inhibit primate lentiviruses by targeting the viral capsid and core.

Several cell type-specific blocks to infection, such as Lv1 through Lv5, remain to be fully understood.

Current methodologies are now well suited to identify the genes responsible for these antiviral blocks.

Abstract

Host antiviral proteins inhibit primate lentiviruses and other retroviruses by targeting many features of the viral life cycle. The lentiviral capsid protein and the assembled viral core are known to be inhibited through multiple, directly acting antiviral proteins. Several phenotypes, including those known as Lv1 through Lv5, have been described as cell type-specific blocks to infection against some but not all primate lentiviruses. Here we review important features of known capsid-targeting blocks to infection together with several blocks to infection for which the genes responsible for the inhibition still remain to be identified. We outline the features of these blocks as well as how current methodologies are now well suited to find these antiviral genes and solve these long-standing mysteries in the HIV and retrovirology fields.

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