The biology of human immunodeficiency virus-1 IIIB infection in the chimpanzee: in vivo and in vitro correlations.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 IIIB infection of chimpanzees leads to a compartmentalized, nonpathogenic in vivo and in vitro relationship with the virus. The absence of an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-like disease in over 100 chimpanzees persistently infected may be related to some or all of the findings reported here. Further characterizing these possible host adapative mechanisms may be critical in both understanding pathogenesis, as well as elucidating novel mechanisms for therapeutic and/or the preventive strategies for AIDS in humans.