Detection of viral DNA by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a first line of defence leading to the production of type I interferon (IFN). As HIV-1 replication is not a strong inducer of IFN, we hypothesised that an intact capsid physically cloaks viral DNA from cGAS. To test this, we generated defective viral particles by treatment with HIV-1 protease inhibitors or by genetic manipulation of gag. These viruses had defective Gag cleavage, reduced infectivity and diminished capacity to saturate TRIM5α. Importantly, unlike wild-type HIV-1, infection with cleavage defective HIV-1 triggered an IFN response in THP-1 cells that was dependent on viral DNA and cGAS. An IFN response was also observed in primary human macrophages infected with cleavage defective viruses. Infection in the presence of the capsid destabilising small molecule PF-74 also induced a cGAS-dependent IFN response. These data demonstrate a protective role for capsid and suggest that antiviral activity of capsid- and protease-targeting antivirals may benefit from enhanced innate and adaptive immunity in vivo.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
1
1%
Other
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3%
Unknown
36
46%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 18. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 07 July 2025.
All research outputs
#2,620,315
of 34,411,289 outputs
Outputs from EMBO Journal
#1,163
of 14,098 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#52,643
of 452,940 outputs
Outputs of similar age from EMBO Journal
#29
of 87 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 34,411,289 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 92nd percentile: it's in the top 10% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 14,098 research outputs from this source. They typically receive more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 9.6. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 91% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 452,940 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done well, scoring higher than 88% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 87 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 66% of its contemporaries.
