Investigators at the UNC School of Medicine, including J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, PhD, have clearly demonstrated that HIV infects and reproduces in macrophages, large white blood cells found in the liver, brain and connective tissues of the body. By studying the virus in novel small animal models without T-cells, researchers found HIV infected macrophages, proving macrophage-tropic strains of HIV exist and can autonomously replicate in these important cells. These findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation on Monday, March 7.
