Comparison of viral burden and disease progression in Chinese-origin rhesus macaques infected with common experimentally applied chimeric virus: SHIV-1157ipd3N4, SHIV-162P3, or SHIV-KB9.

BACKGROUND:Little is known about the comparative susceptibility and differential pathogenic characteristics of Chinese-origin rhesus macaques upon infection with the chimeric SHIVs most commonly applied in experimental research. METHODS:In vivo infectivity, viral replication, and disease progression related to SHIV-1157ipd3N4, SHIV-162P3, and SHIV-KB9 infections were assessed after intravenous inoculation of Chinese-origin rhesus macaques (n = 10 each). RESULTS:SHIV-KB9-infected monkeys had higher plasma viral loads than those infected with SHIV-1157ipd3N4 or SHIV-162P3 (P < 0.05). The SHIV-KB9 group had a member that progressed rapidly to simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and was moribund at 155 days post-inoculation. SHIV-KB9 and SHIV-162P3 showed reverse trends in the effects on levels of memory T-cell subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS:This study provides foundational data for future efficacy testing of candidate vaccine and antiviral therapy using a Chinese-origin rhesus macaque system.