Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) as a model for study of lentivirus infections: parallels with HIV.
FIV is a significant pathogen in the cat and is, in addition, the smallest available natural model for the study of lentivirus infections. Although divergent at the amino acid level, the cat lentivirus has an abundance of structural and pathophysiological commonalities with HIV and thus serves well as a model for development of intervention strategies relevant to infection in both cats and man. The following review highlights both the strengths and shortcomings of the FIV/cat model, particular as regards development of antiviral drugs.
Elder
John H
JH
Department of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. jelder@scripps.edu
Lin
Ying-Chuan
YC
Fink
Elizabeth
E
Grant
Chris K
CK
D000818:Animals; D057055:Aspartic Acid Proteases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects; D002415:Cats; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015195:Drug Design; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015684:Gene Products, pol; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D014779:Virus Replication
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015684:Gene Products, pol; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D057055:Aspartic Acid Proteases