Mhc haplotype M3 is associated with early control of SHIVsbg infection in Mauritian cynomolgus macaques

AbstractThe restricted major histocompatibilty complex of Mauritian cynomolgus macaquesconfers exceptional potential on this species in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)vaccine development. However, knowledge of the effects of Mhc genetics on com-monly used simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and simian/human immunodefi-ciency virus (SHIV) stocks is incomplete. We determined the effect of Mhc haplotypeson SHIVsbg replication kinetics in a cohort of 25 na¨ive cynomolgus macaques. Hap-lotype M3 was associated with a 1.58log 10 reduction in viraemia at day 28 postinfection (p.i.). Haplotype M6 was associated with elevated SHIVsbg viraemia atdays 28 and 56. No significant effect of Mhc class II haplotypes on viral replica-tion was observed. These data emphasise the importance of genetic characterisationof experimental macaques and advance our understanding of host genetic effects inSIV/SHIV models of HIV infection.Infection of cynomolgus macaques ( Macaca fascicularis )with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) or chimaeric SIVexpressing one or more HIV-1 genes (simian/human immun-odeficiency virus, SHIV) represents widely used non-humanprimate models of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)infection, pathogenesis and vaccine evaluation. Cynomolgusmacaques of Mauritian origin (MCM) are particularly usefulfor such studies because of their limited genetic diversity,notably in the