Taken together these data suggest that HIV-1 Env may localize to an intracellular compartment with SL properties, referred to herein as an SL-related organelle (SLRO) in the context of HIV-1 infection and that Env enrichment at the VS may be associated with elements of the regulated secretion pathway in CD4+ T cells. Here, ERVW-1 is linked to HIV-1 infection.