DEFINING THE HCV INFECTIOUS WINDOW PERIOD IN THE CHIMPANZEE

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The infectious window period for hepatitis C virus (HCV), the time between exposure to the virus and the first detection of viral RNA, is not well defined. By establishing the window period, the risk of transmission of HCV by blood products can be further reduced and or prevented. The objective is to define and characterize the infectious window period for HCV in the chimpanzee model. Two chimpanzees have been selected and baseline liver enzyme levels have been determined. HCV borderline positive and negative plasma panels are being put together for the proposed studies. One chimpanzee was IV infused with 50 ml of plasma from each of five individual donors from a panel negative for HCV by nucleic acid testing (NAT). The animals become infected indicating that HCV was present below the level of detection of NAT. Additional virological and immunological assays are being performed at the represent time. Virological assays indicated that the animal rapidly cleared the infection and did not seroconvert. The planned inoculation of the second animal is on hold until a final decision is made on using a different plasma panel.