Since 2016, the number of HIV/AIDS-related research protocols at the WNPRC has escalated at a particularly rapid pace as a result of the growth of the programs of core investigators and an increase in collaborative studies with affiliate investigators nationwide. This rapid increase has placed a strain on the existing WNPRC infrastructure dedicated to the support of infectious disease studies (e.g., rhesus macaques, rhesus housing rooms, and rhesus enclosures). Without increasing the amount of SPF rhesus macaques readily available to WNPRC PIs (Aim 1) and creating additional space dedicated to holding SIV/SHIV infected animals (Aim 2), currently funded projects may face delays, established PIs will not be able to submit new HIV/AIDS related proposals, and the recruitment of additional PIs utilizing the SIV/SHIV-infected rhesus macaque as a model of human infection with HIV will be hindered.
The first aim of the C06 proposal is to acquire additional enclosures to house social breeding groups of rhesus macaques at one of the WNPRC vivarium. The additional enclosures will allow the WNPRC to increase its overall SPF rhesus breeding capabilites, to provide breeding animals and their offspring with a more enriched and appropriate social environment, and to create pens of specific MHC haplotyped animals (e.g., B*08, B*17, etc.) for selective breeding if necessary all of which will benefit PIs performing HIV/AIDS-related research.
The second aim of the proposal is to renovate underutilized procedure rooms at a second WNPRC facility into animal rooms dedicated to HIV/AIDS research. The renovation project will create three new animal rooms (total capacity of 84 animals) adjacent to our new SIV/SHIV animal wing and will equip the rooms with contemporary enclosures that promote the psychological well-being of the animals while facilitating safe performance of experimental procedures in SIV/SHIV infected animals. This proposal is especially responsive to PAR-20-087 as it will result in the expansion of our SPF Rhesus macaque breeding colony while simultaneously increasing our SIV/SHIV-infected Rhesus housing capacity.
