Mamu-B * 08 -Positive Macaques Control Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Replication

Abstract

Certain major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles are associated with the control of human immunodeficiency virus and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication. We have designed sequence-specific primers for detection of the rhesus macaque MHC class I allele Mamu-B * 08 by PCR and screened a cohort of SIV-infected macaques for this allele. Analysis of 196 SIV mac 239-infected Indian rhesus macaques revealed that Mamu-B * 08 was significantly overrepresented in elite controllers; 38% of elite controllers were Mamu-B * 08 positive compared to 3% of progressors ( P = 0.00001). Mamu-B * 08 was also associated with a 7.34-fold decrease in chronic phase viremia ( P = 0.002). Mamu-B * 08 -positive macaques may, therefore, provide a good model to understand the correlates of MHC class I allele-associated immune protection and viral containment in human elite controllers.