HIV-1 replication benefits from the RNA epitranscriptomic code

Abstract The effects of RNA methylation on HIV-1 replication remain largely unknown. Recent studies have discovered new insights into the effect of 2′-O-methylation and methylcytidine marks on the HIV-1 RNA genome. As so far, HIV-1 benefits from diverse RNA methylations through distinct mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in this emerging field and discuss the role of RNA methylation writers and readers in HIV-1 infection, which may help to find alternative strategies to control HIV-1 infection.