The effect of zero gravity on human deficiency virus (HIV) and white blood cells (WBC)

Medical Laboratory Technology

HIV enters macrophages and CD4+ T cells by the adsorption of glycoproteins on its surface to receptors on the target cell followed by fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane and the release of the HIV capsid into the cell for replication process. At zero gravity this adsorption of glycoproteins and fusion process are deactivated, that is unbind GP120 – CCR5 co receptor; it may be due to varying the concentration gradients (Marangoni flow) in between HIV and WBC. Another consideration the white blood cells are like a liquid drop it lets its surface tension hang out and it takes up the maximum volume, as a result unbinding DNA-DNA for HIV and WBC at inside the infected WBC. As a result the HIV separated from WBC and its activation is neutralized.

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