HIV-1 infection in pigtailed macaques

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Primate Models

Background:

• The pigtailed macaque is a potential model for studying human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection.
• Understanding persistent HIV-1 infection and immune responses in vivo is crucial for developing effective therapies and vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the susceptibility of pigtailed macaques to HIV-1 infection.
• To characterize the viral dynamics and host immune responses following experimental HIV-1 inoculation.

Main Methods:

• Four pigtailed macaques were inoculated with autologous cells expressing low levels of HIV-1.
• Infectious virus recovery, HIV-1 DNA detection in PBMCs, and antibody responses (gp160, p24, gp120) were monitored over time.
• In vivo passage attempts were made using blood and lymph node cells from infected animals.

Main Results:

• Three of four macaques showed infectious virus recovery from PBMCs and lymph nodes within 10 weeks.
• Persistent HIV-1 DNA was detected in PBMCs, with infectious virus isolated up to week 61 in one animal.
• Varied HIV-1-specific humoral immune responses, including antibodies to gp160, p24, and gp120, were observed.

Conclusions:

• Pigtailed macaques are susceptible to persistent HIV-1 infection, with viral shedding and proviral DNA detectable for over a year.
• The study confirms the utility of pigtailed macaques as a model for HIV-1 research.
• Observed immune responses provide insights into the host-pathogen interactions during chronic HIV-1 infection in this primate model.