Determination of simian immunodeficiency virus production by infected activated and resting cells.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relative amount of virus produced by activated and resting CD4+ T cells.


METHODS
The total quantity of virus produced by an activated cell relative to a resting cell in vivo was estimated from 'snap-shots' of virus production by infected cells at one time point.


METHODS
Bayesian statistical methods were used to determine a credible interval for the desired ratio.


RESULTS
The posterior mean of the ratio of virus produced by a typical activated cell to a typical resting cell is 0.82 to 4.28, depending on the half-lives of the resting infected cells. Simian immunodeficiency virus-infected resting cells could accordingly be responsible for 70 to 93% of peak virus production in the acute stage of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas in 'snap-shots' the infected resting cells apparently produce much less virus than infected activated CD4+ T cells, the coincidence of peak SIV production with predominant infection of resting cells along with longer half-lives for productively infected resting cells point to a major contribution to virus production in early infection.
Reilly
Cavan
C
Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, MN 55455-0378, USA. cavanr@biostat.umn.edu
Wietgrefe
Steve
S
Sedgewick
Gerald
G
Haase
Ashley
A
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008954:Models, Biological; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000502:physiology*; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication