Background: Rhesus monkeys are relevant models for human diseases. The simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection is an useful macaque model for assessing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine strategies. Susceptibility and resistance to viruses have been associated with particular major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Several epitopes in the HIV structural and non-structural protein restricted by distinct MHC class I haplotypes are important targets for human cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which mediate protection against SIVmac infection. Mamu-A*01, for example, is a MHC class I molecule of rhesus monkeys that presents a peptide from SIV gag protein.
Methods: Our study determined the frequency of Mamu-A*01 in a closed colony of rhesus monkeys from Brazil by polymerase chain reaction.
Results: A high frequency of the allele was found in the study colony.
Conclusion: This colony provides a significant source of A*01-positive animals to investigators.