Antibody and antiretroviral preexposure prophylaxis prevent cervicovaginal HIV-1 infection in a transgenic mouse model

J Virol. 2013 Aug;87(15):8535-44. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00868-13. Epub 2013 May 29.

Abstract

The development of an effective vaccine preventing HIV-1 infection remains elusive. Thus, the development of novel approaches capable of preventing HIV-1 transmission is of paramount importance. However, this is partly hindered by the lack of an easily accessible small-animal model to rapidly measure viral entry. Here, we report the generation of a human CD4- and human CCR5-expressing transgenic luciferase reporter mouse that facilitates measurement of peritoneal and genitomucosal HIV-1 pseudovirus entry in vivo. We show that antibodies and antiretrovirals mediate preexposure protection in this mouse model and that the serum antibody concentration required for protection from cervicovaginal infection is comparable to that required to protect macaques. Our results suggest that this system represents a model for the preclinical evaluation of prophylactic or vaccine candidates. It further supports the idea that broadly neutralizing antibodies should be evaluated for use as preexposure prophylaxis in clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • CD4 Antigens / biosynthesis
  • CD4 Antigens / genetics
  • Chemoprevention / methods*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Genes, Reporter
  • HIV Antibodies / administration & dosage*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Luciferases / analysis
  • Luciferases / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Receptors, CCR5 / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, CCR5 / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • CD4 Antigens
  • HIV Antibodies
  • Receptors, CCR5
  • Luciferases