Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Susceptibility, Immunology, and Microbiome in the Female Genital Tract of Adolescent Versus Adult Pigtail Macaques.

ABSTRACT: In Sub-Saharan Africa, young women 15-24 years of age account for nearly 30% of all new HIV infections, however, biological and epidemiological factors underlying this disproportionate infection rate are unclear. In this study, we assessed biological contributors of SIV/HIV susceptibility in the female genital tract (FGT) using adolescent (n = 9) and adult (n = 10) pigtail macaques (PTMs) with weekly low-dose intravaginal challenges of SIV. Immunological variables were captured in vaginal tissue of PTMs by flow cytometry and cytokine assays. Vaginal biopsies were profiled by proteomic analysis. The vaginal microbiome was assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing. We were powered to detect a 2.2-fold increase in infection rates between age groups, however, we identified no significant d

SUBMITTER: Berard AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8260895 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature