ASSESSING GENETIC-BASED THERAPIES FOR AIDS USING THE SIMIAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS

A plasmid encoding the full-length infectious molecular proviral clone of SIVmac239 was generated. Virus derived from cells transfected with this clone replicated to high levels and was cytopathic for some tran sformed human CD4(+) cell lines and primary rhesus macaque peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Since replication of SIV requires the functio nal expression of the viral encoded rev protein, transient co-transfec tion studies were initiated with the infectious proviral clone and a w ell-characterized trans-dominant negative HIV-1 rev mutant.