Single-virus tracking uncovers the missing link between HIV integration site location and viral gene expression.

Abstract

The site of HIV genome integration is likely a contributing factor in viral gene expression, but such context-specific effects are difficult to demonstrate at the population level. A new approach overcomes this obstacle by tracking individual, barcoded viruses to investigate the relationship between integration site location and the corresponding viral transcription, thereby providing insights essential for understanding HIV production, latency and reactivation.