CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 infection in an immunocompetent monkey model.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41803134.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-70209-5 and PMC identifier 13100051.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Current animal models of HIV-1 infection are either immunocompromised or rely on proxy viruses instead of HIV-1. Here, we establish an immunocompetent animal model for CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 in owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae). Through analysis of 191 owl monkeys, genetic characterization and functional testing demonstrate that CD4 and Tetherin in this species support HIV-1 replication. Although owl monkeys do carry restrictive TRIMCyp and APOBEC3G alleles, small changes to the HIV-1 genome allow the virus to overcome these barriers. The resulting virus remains 93% wildtype HIV-1 in sequence. Fully immunocompetent owl monkeys can be infected with this virus, recapitulating key aspects of HIV-1 infection in humans: an initial surge of virus replication, subsequent establishment of a durable set point viremia, seroconversion, and the formation of a viral reservoir. The owl monkey model broadens the experimental options for HIV-1 research, and future studies will explore its utility for CCR5-tropic virus strains.
Medical subject headings
- Receptors, CXCR4
- HIV-1
- HIV Infections
- Aotidae