The researchers tracked 10 of these regions, called epitopes, during the course of disease progression in rhesus monkeys. All 10 epitopes accumulated amino acid replacements. Many of the replacements either reduced or eliminated the CTLs' ability to kill virus-infected cells. Further characterization of CTLs and the epitopes they recognize is critical to designing effective vaccines, he added. The Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center is now developing a colony of genetically defined rhesus monkeys for more controlled AIDS research.
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Primate-Science Research Highlights are supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Research Resources. Copyright 1999, Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center. No portion of this highlight may be copied or redistributed without the consent of the editor.