CHIMERIC SHIV THAT CAUSES CD4(-CELL LOSS AND AIDS IN RHESUS MACAQUES() T)

By animal to animal passage in rhesus and pig-tailed macaques, we deve loped a rhesus model of HIV-1 disease in humans. Rhesus macaques infec ted with a cell-free stock of SHIVKU-2 developed CD4(+) T cell loss, p rimary lentiviral encephalitis and pneumonia, and AIDS. Six of nine rh esus macaques died within eight months post-inoculation, while the rem aining three are at five, five, and eight months post-inoculation, res pectively. Animals infected by either mucosal or parenteral routes of infection had a similar course of infection.