Antagonism of aminoacid transport in primary CD4 T cells by HIV-1 Vpu.

Abstract

Less than 100 years since it was first transmitted to the human population HIV-1 infects more than 30 million people worldwide and causes almost 2 million AIDS-related deaths every year. Viruses manipulate cellular genes and pathways to benefit their survival, and the study of cell surface proteins downregulated by viruses has provided insights into both viral pathogenesis and crucial aspects of cell biology. We aimed to identify novel cell surface proteins targeted for downregulation by HIV-1.