Isolation of simian immunodeficiency virus from African green monkeys and seroepidemiologic survey of the virus in various non-human primates.

Sixteen isolates of simian retrovirus closely related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were obtained from healthy African green monkeys (AGM) (Cercopithecus aethiops). The first isolate was obtained from a monkey seropositive for HIV, and the others were isolated from monkeys harboring antibodies to the first isolate. These simian retroviruses were referred to as simian immunodeficiency virus from AGM, SIV[AGM], due to their cross-reactivities with HIV structural proteins. These SIV[AGM] isolates were found by Western blotting analysis to have virus-specific proteins of 120, 66, 55, 32-40, 24 and 17 kDa, which were all similar in size to the analogous proteins of HIV. Putative gag proteins of p55, p24 and p17 were recognized by sera of human AIDS patients, but the corresponding env proteins of 32-40 and 120 kDa showed only weak cross-reactivity with those of HIV. The transmembrane glycoproteins of these 3 SIV[AGM] isolates showed size heterogeneity, being 32, 35 and 40 kDa. This virus had particles that were morphologically similar to those of HIV, and had Mg2+-dependent reverse transcriptase. Furthermore, the SIV[AGM] showed tropism and cytopathic effects on CD4-positive human cell lines. In a sero-epidemiological survey of SIV[AGM] in various non-human primates, 2 other African monkey species, the mandrill and de Brazza's monkey, were also found to have antibodies to SIV[AGM]. These HIV-related simian retroviruses will be important in determining the origin and transmission of HIV group viruses, and may provide useful animal models for studies on the infection and pathogenesis of HIV and AIDS.