HIV-1 Induced Cell-to-Cell Fusion or Syncytium Formation

HIV-1 cell-free infection has been thoroughly investigated; however, its relevance and importance in vitro are questionable. Cell-cell transmission is now thought to be the dominant mode of transmission within the host; however precise molecular details remain elusive. The considerable potency of cell-cell transmission hinges upon its ability to hijack and manipulate host immunological function to target uninfected cells, along with overcoming restriction factors and increasing the speed of latent pool formation. Another question of relevance is virus induced cell-cell fusion and how this process is regulated. How often HIV-1 induces the formation of syncytia? Is cell-cell function a potential process for HIV-1 transmission? These questions are discussed and reviewed together with a description of the most common ways of HIV-1 entry and transinfection.