Mucosal transmission and induction of simian AIDS by CCR5-specific simian/human immunodeficiency virus SHIVSF162P3

Nonhuman primate models are increasingly used in the screening of candidate AIDS vaccine and immunization strategies for advancement to large-scale hu man trials. The predictive value of such macaque studies is largely depende nt upon the fidelity of the model system in mimicking human immunodeficienc y virus (HIV) type 1 infection in terms of viral transmission, replication, and pathogenesis. Herein, we describe the efficient mucosal transmission o f a CCR5-specific chimeric simian/human immunodeficiency virus, SHIVSF162P3 . Female rhesus macaques were infected with SHIVSF162P3 after a single atra umatic application to the cervicovaginal mucosa. The disease course of SHIV SF162P3-infected monkeys is similar and as varied as natural HIV infection in terms of viral replication, gradual loss of CD4(+) peripheral blood mono nuclear cells, and the development of simian AIDS-defining opportunistic in fections. The SHIVSF162P3/macaque model should facilitate direct preclinica l assessment of HIV vaccine strategies in addition to antiviral compounds d irected towards envelope target cell interactions. Furthermore, this contro lled model provides the setting to investigate immunologic responses and pu tative host-specific susceptibility factors that alter viral transmission a nd subsequent disease progression.