Mammalian model system and methods of testing immuno-or drug prophylaxis of fetal infection by HIV-1 or other lentiviruses
AssigneeDana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
InventorRuth M. Ruprecht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mammalian model system for the pathogenesis of lentiviral, especially HIV-1, infection during fetal gestation is disclosed. The model system is used in methods of testing various regimens for prophylaxis of fetal lentiviral infection. In the model system, fetal infection is established in a pregnant mammal (e.g., a rhesus monkey, Macaca mulatta or a pigtailed macaque, Macaca nemestrina) by ultrasound guided inoculation of an inoculum of a lentivirus, e.g., SIV, into the amniotic fluid. The testing methods include the analysis of the effectiveness of potential immunotherapeutic and transplacental drug therapy regimens. The model will also allow testing which viral isolates are pathogenic to the developing fetus.
Claims16
A method for infecting a simian fetus with SIV or HIV-1, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pregnant monkey of a species susceptible to infection by SIV or HIV-1, said pregnant monkey being free of SIV or HIV-1 infection;
- and
- inoculating the amniotic fluid of said pregnant monkey with SIV or HIV-1, respectively, in an amount effective to cause infection of the fetus with said respective SIV or HIV-1.
A method for testing prophylaxis of fetal SIV or HIV-1 infection comprising the steps of:
- providing a pregnant monkey of a species susceptible to infection by SIV or HIV-1, said pregnant monkey being free of SIV or HIV-1 infection;
- establishing a potential immuno- or drug prophylactic regimen for prevention of SIV or HIV-1 infection of the fetus of said pregnant monkey;
- after said establishing step, inoculating the amniotic fluid of said pregnant monkey with SIV or HIV-1, respectively, in an amount effective to cause infection of the fetus with said respective SIV or HIV-1 in the absence of said prophylactic regimen;
- and
- determining the effectiveness of said prophylactic regimen in preventing establishment of said respective SIV or HIV-1 infection in said fetus.
A method for testing prophylaxis of fetal SIV or HIV-1 infection comprising the steps of:
- providing a pregnant monkey of a species susceptible to infection by SIV or HIV-1, said pregnant monkey being free of SIV or HIV-1 infection;
- inoculating the amniotic fluid of said pregnant monkey with SIV or HIV-1, respectively, in an amount effective to cause infection of the fetus with said respective SIV or HIV-1 in the absence of an immuno- or drug prophylactic regimen;
- administering to said pregnant monkey an amount of a post-exposure immuno- or drug prophylactic agent to be tested;
- and
- determining the effectiveness of said agent in reducing said respective SIV or HIV-1 infection of said fetus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.