LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIORAL, NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL, VIRAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SIV INFECTION IN RHESUS-MONKEYS

A model is proposed in which a neurovirulent, microglial-passaged, sim ian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is used to produce central nervous sy stem (CNS) pathology and behavioral deficits in rhesus monkeys reminis cent of those seen in humans infected with human immunodeficiency viru s (HIV). The time course of disease progression was characterized by u sing functional measures of cognition and motor skill, as well as neur ophysiologic monitoring. Concomitant assessment of immunological and v irological parameters illustrated correspondence between impaired beha vioral performance and viral pathogenesis. Convergent results were obt ained from neuropathological findings indicative of significant CNS di sease. In ongoing studies, this SIV model is being used to explore the behavioral sequelae of immunodeficiency virus infection, the viral an d host factors leading to neurologic dysfunction, and to begin testing potential therapeutic agents.