Microbiology Commons^™

Development Of A Multi-Epitope Peptide Vaccine Against Monkeypox Virus: Immunoinformatics Analysis For South East Asian Hla Alleles, Nelson Chandra, Mochammad Aqilah Herdiansyah, Viol Dhea Kharisma, Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori, Arli Aditya Parikesit

Makara Journal of Science

The monkeypox virus (MPXV), a DNA virus causing zoonotic disease, poses major global public health challenges, with mortality rates between 3%–6%. Although smallpox vaccines provide partial cross-protection, there is a critical need for a dedicated, effective monkeypox (mpox) vaccine. This study aimed to design a multi-epitope peptide-based vaccine specifically adapted to the HLA allele profiles common in Southeast Asian populations, where MPXV cases are rising. Using immunoinformatics, we screened for and detected B and T cell epitopes from the MPXV cell surface antigen and IFN-alpha/beta receptor proteins. The vaccine design was validated through a rigorous evaluation of its antigenicity, immunogenicity, …

Cardiometabolic Benefits Of A Non-Industrialized-Type Diet Are Linked To Gut Microbiome Modulation, Fuyong Li, Anissa M. Armet, Katri Korpela, Junhong Liu, Rodrigo Margain Quevedo, Francesco Asnicar, Benjamin Seethaler, Tianna B. S. Rusnak, Janis L. Cole, Zhihong Zhang, Shuang Zhao, Adele Gagnon, Edward C. Deehan, Joao F. Mota, Jeffrey A. Bakal, Russell Greiner, Dan Knights, Nicola Segata, Stephan C. Bischoff, Laurie Mereu, Andrea M. Haqq, Catherine J. Field, Liang Li, Carla M. Prado, Jens Walter

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Industrialization adversely affects the gut microbiome and predisposes individuals to chronic non-communicable diseases. We tested a microbiome restoration strategy comprising a diet that recapitulated key characteristics of non-industrialized dietary patterns (restore diet) and a bacterium rarely found in industrialized microbiomes (Limosilactobacillus reuteri) in a randomized controlled feeding trial in healthy Canadian adults. The restore diet, despite reducing gut microbiome diversity, enhanced the persistence of L. reuteri strain from rural Papua New Guinea (PB-W1) and redressed several microbiome features altered by industrialization. The diet also beneficially altered microbiota-derived plasma metabolites implicated in the etiology of chronic non-communicable diseases. Considerable …

Exploring Oxylipins In Host–Microbe Interactions And Their Impact On Infection And Immunity, Robert J. Neff, Christopher D. Radka

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Plasma lipids are essential components of biological systems, transported through interactions with proteins to maintain cellular functions. These lipids exist in various forms, such as fatty acids, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, sterols, and prenol lipids, derived from dietary intake, adipose tissue, and biosynthesis. While the association between certain fatty acids and cardiovascular diseases has been widely recognized, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit cardioprotective effects, reducing risks of arrhythmias and heart-related mortality. This is due to their role in the production of eicosanoids, which modulate inflammation. Chronic inflammation, particularly in obesity, is significantly influenced by fatty acids, with saturated fatty acids promoting …

Axl Signaling In Cancer: From Molecular Insights To Targeted Therapies, Monika Yadav, Akansha Sharma, Ketki Patne, Saba Tabasum, Jyoti Suryavanshi, Laxminarayan Rawat, Marc Machaalani, Marc Eid, Rana Singh, Toni Choueiri, Soumitro Pal, Akash Sabarwal

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

AXL, a member of the TAM receptor family, has emerged as a potential target for advanced-stage human malignancies. It is frequently overexpressed in different cancers and plays a significant role in various tumor-promoting pathways, including cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, stemness, DNA damage response, acquired therapeutic resistance, immunosuppression, and inflammatory responses. Beyond oncology, AXL also facilitates viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2 and Zika highlighting its importance in both cancer and virology. In preclinical models, small-molecule kinase inhibitors targeting AXL have shown promising anti-tumorigenic potential. This review primarily focuses on the induction, regulation and biological functions of AXL …

The Role Of Horizontal Gene Transfer In Antibiotic Resistance Amidst Prevalent Community And Healthcare-Associated Mrsa Rates, Gabrielle Nascimento

Honors College Theses

In recent decades, cases of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) and healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) have been on the rise. The ability of antibiotic resistance to transfer between microorganisms greatly expands its threat to the effective treatment and containment of bacterial infections. The mecA gene is found on a mobile cassette within the Staphylococcal cell and encodes for PBP2a, an alternate version of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) with less binding affinity for β-lactam antibiotics, increasing resistance to the effects of antibiotics. The goal of this research is to investigate the horizontal transfer of the mecA gene between various Staphylococcus species as well as to …

Investigating Regulation And The Regulome Of The Nucleic Acid Binding Protein Spovg Within Borrelia Burgdorferi, Timothy C. Saylor

Theses and Dissertations--Medical Sciences

Prior studies indicated Borrelia burgdorferi SpoVG protein was regulated, SpoVG binds specifically to a number of nucleic acids, and SpoVG binds to the non-variable section of the major virulence factor vlsE. Although a direct transcriptional activator or inhibitor was not elucidated, it is shown that SpoVG is regulated based on cell culture density independent of the growth rate of B. burgdorferi, indicating that SpoVG regulation is outside the scope of the alternative sigma factor RpoS. Using a dCas9 CRISPRi construct to target SpoVG resulted in protein expression trending towards upregulation of the BosR-RpoS regulon, and a marked decrease …

Development Of A Proposed Selective Medium For The Isolation And Differentiation Of P. Sordellii, Dimyana Bottros

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Clostridium, a genus of anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria, includes clinically and ecologically significant species like Clostridium difficile and Paeniclostridium sordellii. C. difficile causes antibiotic-associated colitis, while P. sordellii is linked to fatal infections and spontaneous abortions. Recent studies found both species in marine sediments, suggesting their role in environmental and wildlife health disturbances, including the 2013 mass mortality of over 300 manatees in the Indian River Lagoon. However, isolating and differentiating P. sordellii is challenging due to the lack of selective media optimized for its growth. This thesis proposes a novel selective medium tailored to P. sordellii’s physiological …

Elucidating The Mechanism Of Interleukin-17a Signaling In The Pathogenesis Of West Nile Virus, Farzana Nazneen

Dissertations

West Nile Virus (WNV), a neurotropic flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes, is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in the United States and remains a significant public health concern. Unfortunately, no vaccine or therapeutic intervention is available against WNV infection. Previous studies, including ours, demonstrated that interleukin-17A (IL-17A) signaling increases the cytotoxic potential of CD8⁺ T cells to facilitate WNV and parasite clearance; however, the molecular mechanism is not understood. IL-17 receptor C (IL-17RC) is an obligatory co-receptor with IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) for signaling induced by IL-17A, IL-17A/F, and IL-17F. In this study, we found that IL-17RC deficient ( …

Enhancement Of Zika Virus Infection By West Nile And Dengue Virus Antibody Positive Cord-Blood Samples From Mothers In El Paso-Texas, Jeanette Orbegozo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak and its association with microcephaly cases and other neurological syndromes are important public health concerns. A phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) involves preexisting flavivirus antibodies to a specific flavivirus that enhances the severity of a second infection with a different flavivirus. Since ZIKV is related to flaviviruses like West Nile virus (WNV) and dengue virus (DENV), prior exposure to these viruses could elicit cross-reactive antibodies that may enhance a subsequent ZIKV infection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if WNV and DENV antibodies from cord blood enhanced ZIKV infection in vitro. Initially, a …

Implementing The Methodology To Generate Diagnostic And Therapeutic Antibodies, Andrea Mariana Carlin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research aimed to establish the methodology for developing monoclonal antibodies at The University of Texas at El Paso. Monoclonal antibodies are indispensable across multiple fields, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and biotechnology, yet there is a shortage of commercially available antibodies targeting specific proteins or possessing specialized characteristics. To address this gap, three models were selected: a peptide derived from the intracellular protein Schlafen 8 and two cell surface protein receptors: mouse vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and human melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R). These proteins present unique challenges in antibody generation, including issues of accessibility, expression, and specificity.

Throughout …

Specialized Contact Sites Regulate The Fusion Of Chlamydial Inclusion Membranes, Christine Linton, Jordan Wesolowski, Anna Lobley, Toshiyuki Yamaji, Kentaro Hanada, Fabienne Paumet

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

The intracellular bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis replicates within a membrane-bound compartment called the inclusion. Upon infection with several chlamydiae, each bacterium creates its own inclusion, resulting in multiple inclusions within each host cell. Ultimately, these inclusions fuse together in a process that requires the chlamydial protein IncA. Here, we show that inclusions form unique contact sites (inclusion contact sites, ICSs) prior to fusion, that serve as fusogenic platforms in which specific lipids and chlamydial proteins concentrate. Fusion depends on IncA clustering within ICSs and is regulated by PI(3,4)P₂ and sphingolipids. As IncA concentrates within ICSs, its C-terminus likely interacts …

The Absence Of Cxcl10 Activity Does Not Affect The Capability Of Cd8+ T Cells To Migrate And Eliminate The Tissue Cysts Of Toxoplasma Gondii From The Brains Of Chronically Infected Mice, Rajesh Mani, Yasuhiro Suzuki

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Toxoplasma gondii forms tissue cysts in neurons and astrocytes in the brain to establish chronic infection, and astrocytes express the CXCL10 chemokine in chronically infected mice. Since chemokines mediate the migration of T cells to attack their targets, and since CXCL10 plays key roles in T cell-mediated control of the proliferation of tachyzoites (the acute stage form) of T. gondii during the acute stage of infection, we examined whether CXCL10 is involved in recruiting anti-cyst CD8+ cytotoxic T cells to eliminate the cysts in their brains. We employed adoptive transfer of CD8+ immune T cells to infected, T cell-deficient SCID …

Fcrider: A Recombinant Fc Nanoparticle With Endogenous Adjuvant Activities For Hybrid Immunization, Changchuin Mao, Karen Eberle, Xiaojie Chen, Yiming Zhou, Jun Li, Hong Xin, Wenda Gao

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Active immunization (vaccination) induces long-lasting immunity with memory, which takes weeks to months to develop. Passive immunization (transfer of neutralizing antibodies) provides immediate protection, yet with high cost and effects being comparatively short-lived. No currently approved adjuvants are compatible with formulations to combine active and passive immunizations, not to mention their huge disparities in administration routes and dosage. To solve this, we engineered the Fc fragment of human IgG1 into a hexamer nanoparticle and expressed its afucosylated form in Fut8−/− CHO cells, naming it “FcRider.” FcRider is highly soluble with long-term stability, easily produced at high levels equivalent to those …

Complete Genome Sequence Of An Indian Outbreak Strain Of Chikungunya Virus, Eshna Laha, Deepak Jena, Viplov K. Biswas, Sharad Singh, Sunil K. Raghav, Asit K. Pattnaik, Soma Chattopadhyay

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of an Indian strain of chikungunya virus isolated from an infected patient from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, during a massive outbreak in 2005–2006. The genome length spans 11,811 nucleotides and has a poly(A) tail of 29 residues at the 3′ end.

The Experience Of Homelessness And Its Effects On Gut Eubiosis, Kamerin Villagomez

University Honors Theses

Microorganisms which populate the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) have a profound effect on overall human health. The relationship between host health and eubiosis, or balance, of the GIT microbiome is symbiotic and can have reciprocal relationships with quality of sleep, quality of diet, stress and mental health, and the experience of pain. These specific aspects of health are unique in populations experiencing homelessness due to the multi-dimensional and complex nature of their lived experience. Very few studies explore populations experiencing homelessness, with even fewer investigating the intersection between this population and the human GIT microbiome. It is important to do …

Uses Of Herbal Extracts In Endodontology: A Literature Review, Reem Chamseddine, Roula S. Abiad

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The use of natural herbal extracts in the field of dentistry, and specifically in endodontology had gained a high popularity in the past few years. The main objective of endodontic treatment is to prevent and eliminate the infection from the root canal, seize the invasion of microorganisms to periradicular tissues and preserve the natural dentition. Studies had shown that some herbs are better alternatives to traditional chemical irrigants or medicaments used in root canal treatment, based on their potential antimicrobial effect, smear layer removal capabilities, tissue dissolution effect, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. Aim: The purpose of this literature review …

Protein Nanoparticles As Vaccine Platforms For Human And Zoonotic Viruses, Kush Kumar Pandey, Bikash R. Sahoo, Asit K. Pattnaik

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Vaccines are one of the most effective medical interventions, playing a pivotal role in treating infectious diseases. Although traditional vaccines comprise killed, inactivated, or liveattenuated pathogens that have resulted in protective immune responses, the negative consequences of their administration have been well appreciated. Modern vaccines have evolved to contain purified antigenic subunits, epitopes, or antigen-encoding mRNAs, rendering them relatively safe. However, reduced humoral and cellular responses pose major challenges to these subunit vaccines. Protein nanoparticle (PNP)-based vaccines have garnered substantial interest in recent years for their ability to present a repetitive array of antigens for improving immunogenicity and enhancing protective …

Antibiotic-Induced Changes In Efflux Transporter Expression: A Key Factor In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm Resistance, Zara Imtiaz, Avinash Chatoo, Will Wang, Weiqi Li, Paramita Basu

Touro College of Pharmacy (New York) Publications and Research

Listed by WHO as an antibiotic-resistant priority pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.A.) is a serious threat in nosocomial infections. Its high antibiotic resistance is attributed to major mechanisms that can be categorized into intrinsic, acquired, and adaptive resistance. This study tests the ability of three commonly used antibiotics to inhibit new biofilm formation and eradicate mature biofilm growth, as well as investigate changes in the expression levels of selected genes coding for multidrug efflux pumps in P.A. planktonic cells and biofilms before and after treatment with antibiotics to provide a conceptual estimate of the activity of the efflux transporters that work to …

Trna Anticodon Cleavage By Target-Activated Crispr-Cas13a Effector, Ishita Jain, Matvey Kolesnik, Konstantin Kuznedelov, Leonid Minakhin, Natalia Morozova, Anna Shiriaeva, Alexandr Kirillov, Sofia Medvedeva, Alexei Livenskyi, Laura Kazieva, Kira S Makarova, Eugene V Koonin, Sergei Borukhov, Konstantin Severinov, Ekaterina Semenova

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Type VI CRISPR-Cas systems are among the few CRISPR varieties that target exclusively RNA. The CRISPR RNA–guided, sequence-specific binding of target RNAs, such as phage transcripts, activates the type VI effector, Cas13. Once activated, Cas13 causes collateral RNA cleavage, which induces bacterial cell dormancy, thus protecting the host population from the phage spread. We show here that the principal form of collateral RNA degradation elicited by Leptotrichia shahii Cas13a expressed in Escherichia coli cells is the cleavage of anticodons in a subset of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) with uridine-rich anticodons. This tRNA cleavage is accompanied by inhibition of protein synthesis, thus …

An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of Xanthorrhiza Simplicissima And Its Secondary Alkaloids As Antibiotics Against Staphylococcus Aureus With The Use Of Reserpine, Donald Bothe, Savita Chaurasia

Undergraduate Theses

Xanthorhiza simplicissima is a plant that is steeped in medical history. It has been used for hundreds of years by the Native Americans, and later by the Europeans, of Appalachia for its medicinal properties. One of the most useful medical applications of this plant are its antibiotic properties, as typified by its use as a tea that was consumed to treat mouth sores. These antibiotic properties can be attributed to some of its secondary alkaloids such as berberine, liriodenine, oxyacanthine, and magnoflorine. These compounds have been studied in other systems; however, oxyacanthine and magnoflorine have not been researched in tandem …

Swine Influenza A Virus: Challenges And Novel Vaccine Strategies, Erika M. Petro-Turnquist, Matthew J. Pekarek, Eric A. Weaver

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Swine Influenza A Virus (IAV-S) imposes a significant impact on the pork industry and has been deemed a significant threat to global public health due to its zoonotic potential. The most effective method of preventing IAV-S is vaccination. While there are tremendous efforts to control and prevent IAV-S in vulnerable swine populations, there are considerable challenges in developing a broadly protective vaccine against IAV-S. These challenges include the consistent diversification of IAV-S, increasing the strength and breadth of adaptive immune responses elicited by vaccination, interfering maternal antibody responses, and the induction of vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease after vaccination. Current vaccination …

The Influence Of Cards Toxin In Abetting The Virulence Of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae, Layla Abdulbaki

Posters - 2024

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a human bacterial pathogen known to induce chronic upper and lower respiratory infections. This bacterium commonly causes acute, chronic infections, such as atypical pneumonia, and spreads through droplet transmission (> 5 microns). M. pneumoniae damages cells by attacking the epithelium of the respiratory tract, resulting in epithelium shedding. Infection of the airway tract by M. pneumoniae will usually express itself in people with chronic symptoms such as coughing, dyspnea, diarrhea, and epiphora. With this being said, this bacterium is ambit, meaning that it is versatile in who it affects (children to adults), how it manifests (pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, …

Staphylococcus Aureus Oleate Hydratase Produces Ligands That Activate Host Ppara, Christopher D. Radka, Matthew W. Frank, Tyler S. Simmons, Cydney N. Johnson, Jason W. Rosch, Charles O. Rock

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Commensal gut bacteria use oleate hydratase to release a spectrum of hydroxylated fatty acids using host-derived unsaturated fatty acids. These compounds are thought to attenuate the immune response, but the underlying signaling mechanism(s) remain to be established. The pathogen Staphylococcus aureus also expresses an oleate hydratase and 10- hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (h18:0) is the most abundant oleate hydratase metabolite found at Staphylococcal skin infection sites. Here, we show h18:0 stimulates the transcription of a set of lipid metabolism genes associated with the activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and mouse primary bone marrow-derived …

Investigating Optimal Laboratory Growth Conditions Of Gracilibacillus Halotolerans In Media Supplemented With Salt, Isaac Young

Annual Research Symposium

As interest continues to grow in the field of persister cells and their morphology, there arises an ever-evolving desire to further understand specific strains of bacteria that exemplify the qualities of seemingly anomalous survival regardless of anti-bacterial treatment. In the case of the Gracilibacillus halotolerans, a halotolerant extremophile extracted from the Great Salt Lake with known persistent characteristics, uncovering its optimal growth conditions was essential for future investigations. Identifying the optimal salinity for the growth of G. halotolerans will allow us to standardize our growth methods, uncover several mechanisms of saline tolerance, and add to future investigations of persistence with …

Multivalent Epigraph Hemagglutinin Vaccine Protects Against Influenza B Virus In Mice, Erika M. Petro-Turnquist, Brigette Corder Kampfe, Amber Gadeken, Matthew J. Pekarek, Eric A. Weaver

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Influenza B virus is a respiratory pathogen that contributes to seasonal epidemics, accounts for approximately 25% of global influenza infections, and can induce severe disease in young children. While vaccination is the most commonly used method of preventing influenza infections, current vaccines only induce strain-specific responses and have suboptimal efficacy when mismatched from circulating strains. Further, two influenza B virus lineages have been described, B/Yamagatalike and B/Victoria-like, and the limited cross-reactivity between the two lineages provides an additional barrier in developing a universal influenza B virus vaccine. Here, we report a novel multivalent vaccine using computationally designed Epigraph hemagglutinin proteins …

Inflammation And Tumor Progression: The Differential Impact Of Saa In Breast Cancer Models, Daniel Wilhelm Olivier, Carla Eksteen, Manisha Du Plessis, Louis De Jager, Lize Engelbrecht, Nathaniel Wade Mcgregor, Preetha Shridas, Frederick C. De Beer, Willem J. S. De Villiers, Etheresia Pretorius, Anna-Mart Engelbrecht

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Background: Previous research has shown that the Serum Amyloid A (SAA) protein family is intricately involved in inflammatory signaling and various disease pathologies. We have previously demonstrated that SAA is associated with increased colitis disease severity and the promotion of tumorigenesis. However, the specific role of SAA proteins in breast cancer pathology remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the role of systemic SAA1 and SAA2 (SAA1/2) in a triple-negative breast cancer mouse model.

Methods: Syngeneic breast tumors were established in wild-type mice, and mice lacking the SAA1/2 (SAADKO). Subsequently, tumor volume was monitored, species survival determined, the inflammatory profiles of mice …

Tim/Tam Receptors: A Potential Biomarker For Predicting Sensitivity To Zika Virus-Induced Oncolysis In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers, Shankari Somasekar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) constitute 80-85% of lung cancers and are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The most common cause is prolonged smoking. Current treatment options for NSCLC include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy. Although these medications are effective in the short term, patients often face issues of drug resistance and debilitating side effects with prolonged use. Currently, the use of Zika virus (ZIKV) is being researched as a possible alternative treatment for cancer, which minimizes side effects and the risk of drug resistance. TIM/TAM proteins are identified as the putative ZIKV receptors on …

The Sewage Microbiome Dynamics Of Different Serving Neighborhoods In Charleston, Illinois, Sandra Chiamaka Okoye

Masters Theses

The complex microbial ecosystem within sewage systems holds significant implications for environmental and public health. Unlike studies on wastewater treatment plant microbiomes, upstream sewage systems have not been studied widely. This research investigated the dynamic sewage microbiome across diverse serving neighborhoods in Charleston, Illinois, encompassing residential, hospital, industrial, and university areas. Drawing upon recent advancements in microbiome research, the study aimed to unravel the spatial and temporal variations in microbial structures. Three times between June to December 2023 sewage samples were collected from manholes in the areas mentioned above. Community DNA was extracted and sequenced for the V4-V5 region of …

Reducing Food Scarcity: The Benefits Of Urban Farming, S.A. Claudell, Emilio Mejia

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Urban farming can enhance the lives of communities and help reduce food scarcity. This paper presents a conceptual prototype of an efficient urban farming community that can be scaled for a single apartment building or an entire community across all global geoeconomics regions, including densely populated cities and rural, developing towns and communities. When deployed in coordination with smart crop choices, local farm support, and efficient transportation then the result isn’t just sustainability, but also increasing fresh produce accessibility, optimizing nutritional value, eliminating the use of ‘forever chemicals’, reducing transportation costs, and fostering global environmental benefits.

Imagine Doris, who is …

Ecohiv-Infected Mice Show No Signs Of Platelet Activation, Hammodah Rawhi Hammodah Alfar, Dominic Ngima Nthenge-Ngumbau, Kathryn E. Saatman, Sidney W. Whiteheart

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Platelets express several surface receptors that could interact with different viruses. To understand the mechanisms of HIV-1′s interaction with platelets, we chose the EcoHIV model. While EcoHIV is an established model for neuroAIDS, its effects on platelets are ill-defined. Our results indicate that EcoHIV behaves differently from HIV-1 and is cleared from circulation after 48 h post- infection. The EcoHIV course of infection resembles an HIV-1 infection under the effects of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) since infected mice stayed immunocompetent and the virus was readily detected in the spleen. EcoHIV-infected mice failed to become thrombocytopenic and showed no signs of …