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

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE · 2024 · $537,172

## 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:** 10873248
- **Project number:** 5R01AI172486-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT & ST AGRIC COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Markus Thali
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $537,172
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10873248

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10873248, Multiscale analysis of HIV-1-induced small T cell syncytia (5R01AI172486-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10873248. Licensed CC0.

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