• Platelets may promote HIV-1 spread as they bind to virus via CLEC-2 and DC-SIGN (112). • Significant levels of HIV-1 associated with platelets during all stages of infection (178). • Platelets harbor replication competent HIV (115, 116). • Platelet-CD4+ T-lymphocyte complex formation drives CD4+ T-lymphocyte infection by platelet-bound virus (116). The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is infection.