# Multiscale analysis of HIV-1-induced small T cell syncytia

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · 2022 · $596,388

## Abstract

HIV-1 dissemination critically depends on migration of infected T cells. Unexpectedly, a fraction of the
infected T cells was recently found to exist as small syncytia, containing up to four nuclei. Importantly,
these entities differ from larger syncytia which sometimes can be observed in late stages of virus
dissemination/pathogenesis. Indeed, and as shown in three independent intravital imaging studies, they
are present already at the earliest stages of infection. Our analyses in physiologically relevant in vitro
settings further documented that small T cell syncytia can transfer virus to uninfected cells, suggesting
that they can contribute to early virus dissemination.
With this R01 application, we propose to start exploring whether HIV-1-induced small syncytia can
indeed directly contribute to virus spread. We will start our investigations by characterizing
motility/migration properties of syncytia and analyzing their role in virus transmission dynamics. Host
and viral factors involved in homeostatic maintenance of the syncytial compartment will also be studied.
Importantly, we have recruited the support of a leading HIV proteomics lab in order to comprehensively
map the expression profiles of syncytia.
Should the data resulting from this work support the hypothesis that syncytia contribute significantly to
virus dissemination, we will pursue further funding in order to study potential strategies against these
entities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10654070
- **Project number:** 1R56AI172486-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Markus Thali
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $596,388
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10654070

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10654070, Multiscale analysis of HIV-1-induced small T cell syncytia (1R56AI172486-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10654070. Licensed CC0.

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