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Analysis of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-specific CD8+ T-cells in Rhesus Macaques by Peptide-MHC-I Tetramer Staining
Published on: December 23, 2016
Detection of simian T cell leukemia virus type I infection in seronegative macaques
1Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Simian species of Asian and African origin are naturally infected with the simian T cell leukemia virus type I (STLV-I). Like the closely related human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), STLV-I is primarily cell associated, and typical infections exhibit low viral burdens. Four macaques experimentally inoculated with a new STLV-I strain isolated from a sooty mangabey monkey were examined over extended periods of time for signs of infection by (1) commercial enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot assay for cross-reactive serum antibodies to HTLV-I, (2) commercial HTLV-I p24gag antigen-capture assay on supernatants from cocultures of macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with human PBMCs, and (3) nested PCR amplification of proviral sequences in macaque PBMC DNA. The nested PCR assay was 100% specific and detected a single STLV-I copy in 150,000 PBMCs. In addition, our data show that experimental infection of macaques with STLV-I can be serologically silent for more than 43 months.
Insights
Simian T cell leukemia virus type I (STLV-I) infections in macaques can remain undetected for over 43 months. Sensitive PCR methods are crucial for identifying these persistent, low-burden STLV-I infections.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Primatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Simian T cell leukemia virus type I (STLV-I) naturally infects Asian and African simian species.
- STLV-I, similar to human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), is cell-associated with typically low viral loads.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the detectability and duration of experimental STLV-I infection in macaques.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods for identifying STLV-I in experimentally infected macaques.
Main Methods:
- Four macaques were experimentally infected with a novel STLV-I strain.
- Infection was monitored using enzyme immunoassay, immunoblot assay, HTLV-I p24gag antigen capture, and nested PCR on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
Main Results:
- Nested PCR demonstrated 100% specificity, detecting one STLV-I copy per 150,000 PBMCs.
- Experimental STLV-I infection in macaques remained serologically undetectable for over 43 months.
Conclusions:
- Experimental STLV-I infection in macaques can be clinically and serologically silent for extended periods.
- Highly sensitive nested PCR is essential for detecting low-burden STLV-I infections in macaques.
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