Fluorescently-labeled RNA packaging into HIV-1 particles: Direct examination of infectivity across central nervous system cell types

•We exploited the phenomenon of RNA packaging by HIV-1 to label viral particles.•Various mRNAs were labeled with a fluorescent dye and packaged into HIV-1.•Infected cells in culture were directly examined using fluorescence microscopy.•This method was used to demonstrate HIV-1 infectivity across CNS cell types.•The strategy may represent a novel approach for direct visualization of viral entry.