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Murine and simian retrovirus models: the threshold hypothesis
R M Ruprecht1, T W Baba, R Rasmussen
1Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract:
By considering the dynamic relationship between retroviruses and their hosts, we have developed a unifying hypothesis to explain such disparate clinical phenomena as differential pathogenicity of a given virus in adults and neonates, transient infection with clearance of provirus-containing cells, long-term non-progression and vaccine effects of fully pathogenic viruses. The threshold hypothesis predicts that an opportunity exists during acute retroviral infection to influence the ultimate clinical outcome: if virus replication is kept below threshold by any means, including drug therapy or passive immunoprophylaxis with neutralizing antibodies, the host will prevail and win the race.
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