Overview: HIV-1 is an enveloped retrovirus (Lentivirus) that primarily infects CD4+ T cells , causing progressive immune deficiency (AIDS).

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Transmission: Bloodborne and sexual transmission; perinatal transmission is also possible. Risk for transmission in a laboratory setting presents primarily through sharps injury or exposure to infected material.

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Disease: Early HIV-1 infection may cause flu-like symptoms including fever, sore throat, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. If untreated, the infection can progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), characterized by severe immune suppression leading to chronic fever, weight loss, persistent infections, neurological complications and opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis or pneumonia.

Despite significant advances in treatment, there are still approximately 1.3 million new cases registered annually, with ~630 000 AIDS related deaths occurring each year.

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Risk group: HIV-1 is classified as Risk Group 3** (RG3). Routine cell culture work and thus live cell imaging is performed under BSL- 3 containment. The designation RG3** indicates infection risk is limited as airborne transmission normally does not occur.

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Imaging sites within Germany:

Heidelberg University Medical Faculty - CIID/ IDIP​

Helmholtz Munich - Institute of Virology​​

Paul Ehrlich Institut Langen

Universitätsklinikum Tübingen - Institute of Virology

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​Additional resources: 

(Work in progress)