Overview

• Case Western Reserve University scientists report in Nature Microbiology that HIV infection drives CD4+ T cells into a quiescent state that shuts down proviral transcription.
• After integrating into host DNA, the virus induces cellular “sleep,” making infected cells undetectable to the immune system and unreachable by current antiretroviral drugs.
• Researchers say the active host-cell manipulation reveals specific molecular targets for therapeutic intervention against the latent reservoir.
• The team is conducting follow-up validation and beginning translational work to develop treatments informed by the newly identified mechanism.
• The authors note the dormancy program may extend to other viruses, indicating broader implications for antiviral research and pandemic preparedness.