Figure 2. Viral kinetics and tissue distribution during the first two weeks after oral SHIV exposure.
SHIVSF162P3 viremia was quantified in eight male and female treated and untreated control animals. (a) Plasma viral loads assessed by measurements of SIV viral RNA in blood using a quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (QRT-PCR) assay and in (b) PBMC by quantitative PCR (QPCR). (c) Anatomic locations of tissues collected at necropsy following oral inoculation. (d–g) Viral DNA in tissues was detected by ultrasensitive nested quantitative PCR and RT-PCR37 targeting a highly conserved region in SIV and SHIV gag. Each sample was assayed in 12 replicates (5 μg each). Virus copy numbers were derived from the frequency of positive replicates using the Poisson distribution and calculated as copies per μg of DNA or copies per 106 cell equivalents using the input nucleic acid mass and by assuming a DNA content of 6.5 μg per million cells. Infected tissues are colored to indicate quantified virus according to the scale shown in SIV gag copies/μg of DNA.