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Repeated intravaginal inoculation with cell-associated simian immunodeficiency virus results in persistent infection of nonhuman primates.

Kaizu M, Weiler AM, Weisgrau KL, Vielhuber KA, May G, Piaskowski SM, Furlott J, Maness NJ, Friedrich TC, Loffredo JT, Usborne A, Rakasz EG

Immunogenetics and Virology Unit, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53711, USA.

The goal of the present study was to develop a nonhuman primate model of intravaginal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission with cell-associated virus. Reproductively mature, cycling cynomolgus macaques with or without chemically induced, transient ulcers of the lower female reproductive tract repeatedly received challenge with a variable amount of in vitro simian immunodeficiency virus mac239-infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Persistent viremia was established with surprisingly few infectious lymphocytes containing physiologically relevant quantities of cell-associated virus. This model will be indispensable for the testing of vaccines and topical agents that are aimed toward the prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV.

Published 8 September 2006 in J Infect Dis, 194(7): 912-6.
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