Gladstone Institutes and UCSF researchers map HIV interaction with human cells

Researchers from the Gladstone Institutes and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have developed the first comprehensive genetic map detailing how HIV interacts with real human cells. Unlike previous studies that relied on modified laboratory cell lines, this research utilized T cells extracted directly from human blood samples to more accurately observe biological processes within the body.

By optimizing infection rates to nearly 70%, the team was able to analyze approximately 20,000 human genes simultaneously. Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, the scientists employed a dual strategy: deactivating specific genes to identify those necessary for viral proliferation and identifying proteins that act to halt the virus's progress. This breakthrough identifies numerous human proteins and previously unknown genes that influence whether cells can be infected by HIV.