Genital ulcers facilitate rapid viral entry and dissemination following intravaginal inoculation with cell-associated simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac239.
Here we report the results of studies in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-rhesus macaque model of intravaginal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in the setting of genital ulcerative diseases. We document preferential association of vRNA with induced ulcers during the first days of infection and show that allogeneic cells of the inoculum traffic from the vaginal lumen to lymphatic tissues. This surprisingly rapid systemic dissemination in this cell-associated SIV challenge model thus reveals the challenges of preventing transmission in the setting of genital ulcerative diseases and illustrates the utility of this animal model in tests of strategies aimed at reducing transmission under these conditions.
Weiler
Andrea M
AM
AIDS Vaccine Laboratory, WNPRC, 555 Science Dr., Madison, WI 53711, USA.
Li
Qingsheng
Q
Duan
Lijie
L
Kaizu
Masahiko
M
Weisgrau
Kim L
KL
Friedrich
Thomas C
TC
Reynolds
Matthew R
MR
Haase
Ashley T
AT
Rakasz
Eva G
EG
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000821:virology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000635:transmission*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000254:growth & development*; D014456:Ulcer / Q000821:virology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D053586:Virus Internalization