PATHOGENIC DETERMINANTS OF THE SIV ENVELOPE TRANSMEMBRANE CYTOPLASMIC DOMAIN

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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. HIV-1 establishes a persistent infection characterized by ongoing viral replication in the face of vigorous host immune responses, CD4 cell depletion, and ultimately AIDS. For SIV models of AIDS, attenuated SIVs have provided powerful tools to understand pathogenesis, as they are viruses that can be controlled by the host. These models have also provided the best evidence that host immune responses can protect animals from infection and/or disease when challenged with pathogenic isolates. However, for even the best characterized attenuated viruses, the mechanism(s) that underlie their attenuation and the immune correlates of this protection are unknown. Moreover, when protection is achieved, it is typically for homologous rather than heterologous viruses, a scenario far removed from what will be required for an effective vaccine. Our laboratory has shown that mutations in a conserved GYxx¿ trafficking motif in the SIVmac239 Env cytoplasmic tail produce a profoundly attenuated phenotype that renders this highly pathogenic virus susceptible to host immune control. We have also shown that infected animals are protected from infection with a homologous SIVmac239 challenge, and remarkably, are able to control a heterologous challenge virus (SIVmac E660). We propose to extend our preliminary results in this model to characterize the effects of GYxx¿ mutations on the virus in vitro and, in rigorous in vivo studies in rhesus macaques, to identify the correlates of reduced pathogenicity and host immune control. Our studies involve three aims. Aim #1 will evaluate the effects of TM tail mutations on virion structure, composition, infectivity, and fitness, and will explore the basis for the increased neutralization sensitivity of these viruses. Aim #2 will comprehensively evaluate early and late events of infection in mucosal and other lymphoid sites to determine what cells are infected, what cytopathic effects occur, what inflammatory responses are elicited, and whether the attenuation observed in this model affects the ability of GYxx¿ mutants to be transmitted mucosally. Aim #3 will evaluate cellular and humoral immune responses to GYxx¿ mutants to determine what differences exist compared to SIVmac239 in breadth, specificity and magnitude. Responses will be assessed before and after challenge with a pathogenic heterologous virus to determine what are the immune correlates of protection. These aims will also take advantage of viruses that have developed apparent compensatory mutations, as they will be powerful tools for future studies to address basic cellular mechanisms that underlie this model of attenuation and host immune control. To date 12 animals have been acquired, two have been infected and euthanized at early time points, 4 have been infected with SIVmac239deltanef and the remaining animals have been infected with SIVmac239deltaGY by IV or mucosal routes.