Susceptibility of mink (Mustera vision)-derived cells to replication by human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

ABSTRACT: In vivo studies for understanding viral transmission and replication, host immune responses, and pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection would greatly benefit from the establishment of a small-animal model. In this study, we explored the potential of American mink (Mustera vison) as a susceptible host. We found that primary cells and cell lines derived from this species efficiently supported trans-activation of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat by Tat. Accordingly, the cysteine residue at position 261, which has been shown to be important for interaction of the human cyclin T1 with the HIV-1 regulatory protein Tat, is conserved in the mink homologue. No species-specific defect in Rev function could be detected in mink cells. In addition, primary splenocytes, fibr

SUBMITTER: Koito A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC153984 | biostudies-literature | 2003 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature