bAlthough serious human diseases have been correlated with human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and HHV-6B, the lack of animal models has prevented studies which would more definitively link these viral infections to disease. HHV-6A and HHV-6B have recently been classified as two distinct viruses, and in this study we focused specifically on developing an in vivo model for HHV-6A. Here we show that Rag2 ؊/؊ ␥c ؊/؊ mice humanized with cord blood-derived human hematopoietic stem cells produce human T cells that express the major HHV-6A receptor, CD46. Both cell-associated and cell-free viral transmission of HHV-6A into the peritoneal cavity resulted in detectable viral DNA in at least one of the samples (blood, bone marrow, etc.) analyzed from nearly all engrafted mice. Organs and cells positive for HHV-6A DNA were the plasma and cellular blood fractions, bone marrow, lymph node, and thymic samples; control mice had undetectable viral DNA. We also noted viral pathogenic effects on certain T cell populations. Specific thymocyte populations, including CD3 ؊ CD4 ؉ CD8 ؊ and CD3 ؉ CD4 ؊ cells, were significantly modified in humanized mice infected by cell-associated transmission. In addition, we detected significantly increased proportions of CD4؉ CD8 ؉ cells in the blood of animals infected by cell-free transmission. These findings provide additional evidence that HHV-6A may play a role in human immunodeficiencies. These results indicate that humanized mice can be used to study HHV-6A in vivo infection and replication as well as aspects of viral pathogenesis.

Thin liquid films (TLF) have fundamental and technological importance ranging from the thermodynamics of cell membranes to the safety of light‐water cooled nuclear reactors. The creation of stable water TLFs, however, is very difficult. In this paper, the realization of thin liquid films of water with custom 3D geometries that persist indefinitely in ambient environments is reported. The wetting films are generated using microscale “mounts” fed by microfluidic channels with small feature sizes and large aspect ratios. These devices are fabricated with a custom 3D printer and resin, which are developed to print high resolution microfluidic geometries. By modifying the 3D‐printed polymer to be hydrophilic and taking advantage of well‐known wetting principles and capillary effects, self‐sustaining microscale “water fountains” are constructed that continuously replenish water lost to evaporation while relying on surface tension to stabilize their shape. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first demonstration of stable sub‐micron thin liquid films (TLFs) of pure water on curved 3D geometries.

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