Publications by authors named "Leon Flanary"

Article Synopsis
  • The study explores how the mucosal immune system in rhesus macaques responds to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) following high-dose intrarectal inoculation, revealing insights into early viral replication and systemic infection during acute phases.
  • At 3 days post-inoculation, a strong host transcriptional response was noted, but lacking antiviral immunity genes; instead, genes related to cell adhesion and cytoskeletal organization were differentially expressed.
  • By 12 days post-inoculation, immune function genes were more prominent, indicating that mucosal integrity is compromised early, potentially exacerbating tissue damage and inflammation during peak viral loads.
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Protection afforded by HIV Tat-based vaccines has differed in Indian rhesus and Mauritian cynomolgus macaques. We evaluated native Tat and Ad-HIVtat priming/Tat-boosting regimens in both species. Both vaccines were immunogenic.

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Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients does not clear the infection and can select for drug resistance over time. Not only is drug-resistant HIV-1 a concern for infected individuals on continual therapy, but it is an emerging problem in resource-limited settings where, in efforts to stem mother-to-child-transmission of HIV-1, transient nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) therapy given during labor can select for NNRTI resistance in both mother and child. Questions of HIV-1 persistence and drug resistance are highly amenable to exploration within animals models, where therapy manipulation is less constrained.

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Rising concerns over respiratory illnesses caused by agents such as avian influenza viruses and SARS coronavirus have prompted intensive research efforts and the resurgence of nonhuman primates as models for these human diseases. In the context of studying influenza infection and vaccine development, serial bronchoscopic procedures, including bronchial brush biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage, were performed in pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina). The possible need for oxygen supplementation during these procedures was anticipated because of the size of the animals relative to the 5-mm bronchoscope.

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SPL7013 is a dendrimer with a polyanionic outer surface that allows multiple interactions with target sites. It potently binds and blocks HIV-1 and chimeric simian/HIV-1 viruses (SHIVs) replication in vitro. Gels containing different concentrations of SPL7013 were used as topical microbicides in female pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) to study their ability to prevent vaginal transmission of SHIV(89,6P).

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