Isolation and Characterization of Simian Retrovirus Type D from Macaca fascicularis and M.nemestrina in Indonesia
Author: DIAH lSKANDRlATI, UUS SAEPULOH, SILMI MARlYA, RICHARD F GRANT, DEDY DURYADI SOLIHIN, DONDIN SAJUTHI, AND JOKO PAMUNGKASAbstract
Simian type D retroviruses (SRVs) are one of the causative agents of simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Asian macaques. In the past, SRV isolates from macaques had only been identified at the US primate centers, outside the country of origin and alter the animals had been introduced into a new environment. In this study, we report the first isolation, cultivation and molecular characterizationoifflre type D simian retrovirus naturally infecting wild caught macaques in their natural habitats in the country of origin, in this case, Indonesia. When peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Macaca fascicularis (Ml) and M. neinestrina (Mn) were co-cultured human B-cell line, syncytia were observed microscopically and confirmed by immunofinoresence assay using antibody to SRV-2.lmmunoblot analysis of purified Mf-ETIOO6 from cell culture supernatants demonstrated that the viral core and envelope proteins reacted-withrahhit anti-SRV. Sequence analysis of Mf isolates in the viral envelope region revealed high homology to SRV-2 (94-96%). On the other luIII,the-homologies in the envelope region of Mn isolates were less than 80% to SRV- I, SRV-2, SRV-3 and Mf isolates. This study suggests that the isolate from Mn may be dilTerent from any other published SRV isoIates.
