Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
HIV, FDC, macrophages, follicular dendritic cells
College
Life Sciences
Department
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Abstract
Over the last semester, I have been engaged in studying the ability of macrophages to pick up HIV from follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in the follicles of the lymph nodes. Research by Dr. Gregory F. Burton of Brigham Young University has shown that HIV virions held on the dendrite processes of follicular dendritic cells in immune complex form are still infectious, and can infect T cells. Research by Dr. Suzanne Gartner at Johns Hopkins University has shown homology between HIV isolated from the brain to HIV in the lymph nodes. Tying these data together, I hypothesized that macrophages are able to pick up HIV in the lymph nodes, and then transport it to other sites in the body, such as the brain. To test this hypothesis, I designed an experiment to show that macrophages could be infected by HIV trapped on FDC.
Recommended Citation
Fuller, Michael and Burton, Dr. Gregory
(2013)
"Transfer of HIV from FDC to Macrophages,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 1314.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1314