CG Dinucleotide Removal in Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Reporters Improves HIV-1 Replication and Reporter Gene Expression for Dual Imaging in Humanized Mice
Chandra Nath Roy, Mariana A. Benitez Moreno, Christopher E. Kline, Zandrea Ambrose
Abstract
Animal models are important for studying HIV-1 pathogenesis and treatments. We developed two viruses each encoding a reporter gene that can be expressed in cells after infection. This study shows that HIV-1 infection can be visualized by noninvasive, whole-body imaging in mice with human immune cells over time by reporter expression. We improved reporter expression to reflect HIV-1 replication and showed that two viral variants can be tracked over time in the same animal and can predict failure of antiretroviral therapy to suppress virus.
Topics & Concepts
Reporter geneBiologyBioreporterVirologyViremiaViral replicationIn vivoMolecular biologyGeneBioluminescence imagingGene expressionVirusLuciferaseTransfectionGeneticsHIV Research and TreatmentCytomegalovirus and herpesvirus researchHerpesvirus Infections and Treatments