In rhesus macaques, a SIV/HIV-1 chimeric virus (SHIV) containing the env gene from HIV-1 89.6 is capable of initiating a systemic infection following mucosal or systemic inoculation. Previous Infection with SHIV89.6 protects 60% of rhesus monkeys from uncontrolled replication of SIVmac239 after intravaginal inoculation. Understanding the nature and anatomic location of the adaptive immune that confers protection to SHIV """"""""immunized"""""""" monkeys would be significant contribution to AIDS vaccine development. The overall goal of the Primate Core is to facilitate the design and execution of the in-vivo primate studies that will be the basis of all 3 projects in the program. All the in-vivo studies will be carried out at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC).This Core will obtain mature, multi-parous, female rhesus monkeys, immunize the monkeys intravenously with virulence-attenuated SHIV89.6, administer immunomodulatory agents to monkeys and challenge the monkeys intravaginally with defined stocks of SIVmac239; determine vRNA levels and viral population complexity in plasma and tissues of the monkeys after SIVmac239 challenge; characterize CD4+ T cell levels in plasma and tissues of the monkeys after SIVmac239 challenge and characterize body weight levels of the monkeys before and after SIVmac239 challenge. This Core is essential for the completion of the proposed studies.
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