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Preparation and maintenance of SCID-hu mice for HIV research
G C Bristol1, L Y Gao, J A Zack
1Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, USA.
The SCID-hu mouse bearing a functional human thymic implant can be easily infected with HIV. Infection results in virus replication and relatively rapid depletion of CD4+ human thymocytes, resulting in a pathologic profile similar to that seen in the thymus of HIV-infected humans. The use of the SCID-hu model for HIV research requires protection of the animals from opportunistic infections and protection of the operators from human pathogens. This discussion describes reliable methods of animal care and surgical procedures to meet these needs.
The SCID-hu mouse bearing a functional human thymic implant can be easily infected with HIV. Infection results in virus replication and relatively rapid depletion of CD4+ human thymocytes, resulting in a pathologic profile similar to that seen in the thymus of HIV-infected humans. The use of the SCID-hu model for HIV research requires protection of the animals from opportunistic infections and protection of the operators from human pathogens. This discussion describes reliable methods of animal care and surgical procedures to meet these needs.