title: Frequency of the major histocompatibility complex Mamu-A*01 allele in experimental rhesus macaques in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Indian rhesus macaques, the major histocompatibility complex Mamu gene, especially the Mamu-A*01 allele, plays an important role in simian immunodeficiency virus susceptibility and disease progression. The Mamu-A*01 allele is one of the protective genes mostly being studied in simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  PCR was used to amplify the Mamu-A*01 allele in 130 Chinese-origin rhesus macaques. Identification of the allele was then confirmed by sequencing and IFN-γ ELISPOT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Mamu-A*01 allele was detected in 3.85% (5 of 130) of the experimental Chinese-origin rhesus macaques. The sequence homology reached 99.1% in comparison with Indian rhesus macaques. A significantly large number of spots were observed in Mamu-A*01-positive monkeys when analyzed by ELISPOT with Gag181-189 epitope stimulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that Mamu-A*01-positive Chinese-origin rhesus monkeys are suitable for use in AIDS studies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medical Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.forename: Xiuying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C110764:Mamu-A 01 antigen; D007371:Interferon-gamma