title: Integration of immunodeficiency virus in oocytes via intracytoplasmic injection: possible but extremely unlikely.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if human oocytes can be infected with HIV-1 via intracytoplasmic injection and to determine the infection threshold.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight donated immature and unfertilized human oocytes from HIV-negative women were injected with 4 × 10(4) HIV-1 virions and 13 oocytes were used as uninjected controls. To determine the infection threshold, 543 cat oocytes were injected with 4 × 10(4), 4 × 10(2), or 40 copies of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and 376 oocytes were used as controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic hospital. PATIENT(S)/ANIMAL(S): Donated immature human oocytes and mature cat oocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injection with HIV-1 or FIV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Viral integration as measured by fluorescent in situ hybridization with HIV-1-specific probes or by nested FIV polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected viral integration in three of 28 (11%) human oocytes injected with 4 × 10(4) copies of HIV-1. When injected with high dose FIV (4 × 10(4) copies) 16%-49% of cat oocytes showed viral integration. This decreased to 2%-7% and 0.6%-1.8% when an intermediate (4 × 10(2) copies) or low (40 copies) dose was injected, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human and cat oocytes can be infected with HIV-1 and FIV respectively, when injected with high amounts of virus. The probability of viral integration is extremely low when small amounts of virus particles are injected. Taking into account the small volume injected during intracytoplasmic injection, the chances of viral integration are 0.00002%.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marjan M C
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Steenvoorden
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Nancy M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Schuurman
authors.forename: Herman F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Egberink
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berkhout
authors.forename: Fulco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van der Veen
authors.forename: Sjoerd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Repping
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015994:Incidence; D007267:Injections / Q000379:methods; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D011336:Probability; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000502:physiology*