Collagen based 3D tissue-like cultures have been shown to modulate HIV-1 infectivity and mode of spread. Here, the authors demonstrate that varying the density of type I collagen matrices impair HIV-1 particle fusion and sensitize virions for TLR-based innate immune recognition by macrophages implicating structural changes in Env, TLR2 interaction and TLR8 positive endosomes promoting innate immune detection of viral gRNA.
- Samy Sid Ahmed
- Liv Zimmermann
- Oliver T. Fackler
