Centrosomal pre-integration latency of HIV-1 in quiescent cells

Human immunodeficiency virus type I( HIV- I) efficiently replicates in dividing and non-dividing cells. However, HIV- I infection is blocked at an early post-entry step in quiescent CD4+ T cells in vitro. The molecular basis of this restriction is still poorly understood. Here, we show that in quiescent cells, incoming HIV- I sub-viral complexes concentrate and stably reside at the centrosome for several weeks. Upon cell activation, viral replication resumes leading to viral gene expression. Thus, HIV- I can persist in quiescent cells as a stable, centrosome-associated, preintegration intermediate.