Non-Human Primate Models in AIDS Research

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: David T. Evans, Harvard Medical School; Guido Silvestri, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-07
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://journals.lww.com/co-hivandaids/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2013&issue=07000&article=00002&type=abstract
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS
• ISSN: 1746-630X
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 255
• End Page: 261
• Grant/Funding Information: Additional support was provided by PHS grants AI090797 and AI066998 to GS and AI087498, AI095098 and AI098485 to DTE.; This work was supported by Public Health Service (PHS) grants RR000165/OD011132 to the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and RR000168/OD011103 to the New England Primate Research Center.
• Keywords: SIV; animal models; non-human primates
• Research Categories: Biology, Virology; Health Sciences, Immunology; Biology, Microbiology

Abstract

Purpose of review Over the past decades, AIDS research has made tremendous progress in all key areas, including pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment. In particular, the introduction of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected individuals. On the other hand, several challenges remain, including the absence of a vaccine that can reliably prevent virus acquisition, and the inability of current ART regimens to eradicate the infection. Recent findings A number of key advances in HIV/AIDS research have been made possible by the extensive use of animal models, and in particular the non-human primate models of SIV and SHIV infection of various monkey species, including macaques, sooty mangabeys, vervets, and others. Key advantages of these models include the ability to control for parameters that are virtually impossible to assess in humans, to extensively study cells and tissues (including elective necropsy), and to perform proof-of-concept studies that would pose unacceptable safety risks in humans. Summary In this review, we describe the most recent advances in the use of animal models for HIV/AIDS research, and will break down these advances in three areas: (i) models for virus transmission, dissemination, and pathogenesis; (ii) models for virus prevention and vaccines; and (iii) models for virus eradication and indefinite virus containment (functional cure) under ART.