Studies of the biology of mucosal HIV-1 transmission are limited because the circumstances of viral exposure usually cannot be observed and can never by controlled. Nonhuman primate models are limited because massive titers of SIV are required to establish infection after mucosal challenge and sexual transmission between macaques has not be observed despite frequent sexual contact and the presence of infectious virus in genital secretions. Serological data from the mangabey colony at Yerkes were analyzed during this study period. This analysis indicated that the risk of seroconversion began at the age when mounting behavior is initiated and rates of seroconversion are higher in female mangabeys compared with males. A series of experiments were planned to test the hypothesis that SIV is sexually transmitted among mangabeys and to determine if sooty mangabeys could be a useful model for studies of viral selection during sexual transmission and for the evaluation of topical virucides for the prevention of viral transmission. These studies may greatly facilitate vaccine design and the development of topical agents for the prevention of sexual transmission of lentiviruses.
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