Simian T-cell lymphotropic virus type I alters the proviral load and biodistribution of simian retrovirus type 2 in co-infected macaques, supporting advancement of immunosuppressive pathology.

The infection dynamics and pathology of a retrovirus may be altered by one or more additional viruses. To investigate this further, this study characterized proviral load, biodistribution and the immune response in Macaca fascicularis naturally infected with combinations of simian retrovirus type 2 (SRV-2) and simian T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (STLV-I). As the mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and the spleen have been implicated previously in response to retroviral infection, the morphology and immunopathology of these tissues were assessed.

Development of a World Health Organisation International Reference Panel for Anti-HIV.

In response to a recommendation made by the "World Health Organisation (WHO) Working Group on Reference Preparations for Testing HBsAg, Anti-HCV and Anti-HIV Diagnostic Kits", a reference panel for anti-HIV consisting of plasma samples representing the major groups and subtypes of HIV has been prepared. The panel consists of solvent-detergent treated anti-HIV-positive human plasma samples that have been diluted 1 in 40 in anti-HIV-negative human serum and freeze-dried and the anti-HIV-positive plasma samples were derived from individuals infected with HIV-1 group M subtypes A, B, C and CRF01_AE, HIV-1 group O and HIV-2. Fifteen laboratories from around the world took part in a collaborative study to evaluate the reference panel for anti-HIV and were requested to test the panel in as wide a range of assays as possible.