Transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus SIVcpz and the evolution of infection in the presence and absence of concurrent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in chimpanzees.
Current data suggest that the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic arose by transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) SIVcpz from a subspecies of common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) to humans. SIVcpz of chimpanzees is itself a molecular chimera of SIVs from two or more different monkey species, suggesting that recombination was made possible by coinfection of one individual animal with different lentiviruses. However, very little is known about SIVcpz transmission and the susceptibility to lentivirus coinfection of its natural host, the chimpanzee. Here, it is revealed that either infected plasma or peripheral blood mononuclear cells readily confer infection when exposure occurs by the intravenous or mucosal route. Importantly, the presence of preexisting HIV-1 infection did not modify the kinetics of SIVcpz infection once it was established by different routes. Although humoral responses appeared as early as 4 weeks postinfection, neutralization to SIVcpz-ANT varied markedly between animals. Analysis of the SIVcpz env sequence over time revealed the emergence of genetic viral variants and persistent SIVcpz RNA levels of between 10(4) and 10(5) copies/ml plasma regardless of the presence or absence of concurrent HIV-1 infection. These unique data provide important insight into possible routes of transmission, the kinetics of acute SIVcpz infection, and how readily coinfection with SIVcpz and other lentiviruses may be established as necessary preconditions for potential recombination.
Heeney
Jonathan L
JL
Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre, Lange Kleiweg 139, P.O. Box 3306, 2280 GH Rijswijk, The Netherlands. heeney@bprc.nl
Rutjens
Erik
E
Verschoor
Ernst J
EJ
Niphuis
Henk
H
ten Haaft
Peter
P
Rouse
Scott
S
McClure
Hazel
H
Balla-Jhagjhoorsingh
Sunita
S
Bogers
Willy
W
Salas
Mary
M
Cobb
Kathy
K
Kestens
Luc
L
Davis
David
D
van der Groen
Guido
G
Courgnaud
Valerie
V
Peeters
Martine
M
Murthy
Krishna K
KK
D000818:Animals; D018420:Ape Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D002678:Chimera; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000235:genetics; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus; D013045:Species Specificity
D015686:Gene Products, env; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral