Rodent models for HIV-1 infection and disease

The development of a predictive, small animal model for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease would greatly facilitate the analysis of many aspects of viral infection, pathogenesis and treatment. While numerous small animal models exist which emulate various aspects of HIV-1 infection and/or disease in humans, none of these models support robust HIV-1 replication within the context of an intact immune system. Despite this major limitation, these models have helped to elucidate different aspects of HIV-1 pathogenesis in humans. Moreover, recent advances regarding the underlying nature of the blocks to viral replication in non-human cells have raised the possibility that rodents may be engineered to support HIV-1 infection. This review will focus on recent attempts to develop a rodent model for HIV-1 disease, and will also describe currently available systems for studying HIV-1.