Animal Models of Retroviral Encephalopathies: Feline Model

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in children and adults results in a progressive neurodegenerative disease consistent with a predominant subcortical mediated dementia. Techniques for developing a feline model of the early stages of lentiviral-associated neurodegeneration are presented. The behavioral, neurophysiologic, immunologic, virologic, and neuropathologic aspects of this model are also described.

Identification of Amino Acid Residues Important for Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan Interaction within Variable Region 3 of the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Surface Glycoprotein

“…Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) causes an AIDS-like disease in its natural host, the domestic cat (37), and is thus a valuable animal model for the development of antiviral agents against lentivirus infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); design of anti-HIV vaccines; and study of lentiviral pathogenesis (11,40,56,60). To date, four different cell surface molecules that interact with FIV SU have been identified: CXCR4 (9,41,59,61), CD134 (6,48), heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) (7,9), and DC-SIGN (9,10).…”