von Gegerfelt Agneta S, Alicea Candido, Valentin Antonio, Morrow Matthew, van Rompay Koen K A, Ayash-Rashkovsky Mila, Markham Phillip, Else James G, Marthas Marta L, Pavlakis George N, Ruprecht Ruth M, Felber Barbara K
Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2006 Jun;22(6):516-28. doi: 10.1089/aid.2006.22.516.
A cohort of 22 rhesus macaques of Indian origin infected as neonates, juveniles, or adults by Rev-independent strains of SIV was monitored over several years. After the initial acute phase, virus replication was controlled and plasma virus loads were persistently below the threshold of the assay. The animals were monitored for up to 7.6 years after infection for viral loads, cellular and humoral immune responses, hematological changes, and overall health and no signs of immune dysfunction or AIDS were observed. This study represents several years of additional observation compared to the previously published results, and indicates that the Rev-independent SIV clones tested do not cause AIDS-like progressive disease within 7.6 years from infection. All the animals showed persistent humoral and cellular SIV-specific immune responses, consistent with chronic infection. Different Rev-independent SIV strains showed similar properties and lack of pathogenicity. Multicolor flow cytometric analysis demonstrated preservation of the Central Memory subset of T cells in the attenuated SIV-infected animals. This study demonstrates a potent, long-lasting control of the Rev-independent attenuated SIV in macaques independent of the age at virus exposure.
