An Up-close View of HIV (IMAGE)

University of Utah Health

An Up-close View of HIV

Caption

At 130 nanometers, HIV is about 60 times smaller than a red blood cell. Advances in cryo-electron microscopy (left) and molecular modeling (right) have made it possible to see the virus in unprecedented detail. Using these techniques, the team visualized each of the 240 tiny protein "tiles" that fit together to make the cone-shaped outer shell. With the up-close view, the scientists could literally see that, contrary to what had been believed, the capsid remained largely intact throughout the replication process during infection. These insights are contributing to a new understanding of HIV infection, which could lead to better treatments for AIDS.

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Owen Pornillos, Barbie Ganser-Pornillos

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