A dual-purpose humanized mouse model for testing antiviral strategies against both SIV and HIV.

Nonhuman primate (NHP) models employing simian/simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SIV/SHIVs) played a major role in the study of HIV pathogenesis, latency, and cure studies in a preclinical setting. However, it took many years to arrive at the current effective triple drug ARV regimen against SIV due to the genetic differences with that of HIVs. Since new combinations of drugs will be used in the evolving HIV cure studies, a small animal model would be ideal to determine their efficacy against the commonly used SIVs such as SIVmac239 to triage ineffective drugs prior to their application in NHPs.

Viral evolution of SIV chimpanzee toward HIV-1 using humanized mice.

HIV-1 emerged from SIVcpz evolving in humans. Humanized mice are an effective tool for assessing viral evolution via measuring viral loads, CD4 T cell decline, and analyzing genetic changes. Four serial passages showed many non-synonymous mutations important for the adaptation and evolution of SIVcpz to human immune cells.

Zika virus induced microcephaly and aberrant hematopoietic cell differentiation modeled in novel neonatal humanized mice.

Introduction: Immunocompetent and immunocompromised murine models have been instrumental in answering important questions regarding ZIKV pathogenesis and vertical transmission. However, mimicking human congenital zika syndrome (CZS) characteristics in these murine models has been less than optimal and does not address the potential viral effects on the human immune system.

Methods: Here, we utilized neonatal humanized Rag2γc mice to model CZS and evaluate the potential viral effects on the differentiation of human hematopoietic stem cells .