Simian immunodeficiency virus infection via amniotic fluid: a model to study fetal immunopathogenesis and prophylaxis.
The rising prevalence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in young women will increase the number of infected children worldwide. Because HIV-1 seems to be transmitted mostly intrapartum, fetal infection probably occurs mainly via skin or mucous membrane exposure. A model for this route of fetal infection has been established in primates. After injecting the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) into amniotic fluid during late gestation, six of seven rhesus monkeys were born infected. All infected neonates were viable and showed signs of disease, such as low birth weights, lymphadenopathy, and rashes. Cytotoxic T-cell responses to SIV were absent in neonates, but present in mothers. The high fetal infection rate allows studies of lentiviral immunopathogenesis during ontogeny and the development of strategies to prevent maternal HIV-1 transmission.
Fazely
F
F
Laboratory of Viral Pathogenesis, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115.
Sharma
P L
PL
Fratazzi
C
C
Greene
M F
MF
Wyand
M S
MS
Memon
M A
MA
Penninck
D
D
Ruprecht
R M
RM
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000151:congenital / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C066594:Gag protein p27, Simian immunodeficiency virus; D015683:Gene Products, gag