SIV/SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in rhesus macaques impacts viral shedding, host immunity, the microbiome, and viral evolution

People living with HIV (PLWH) are at an elevated risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infection in this population can lead to prolonged infection and viral shedding, and the emergence of variants of concern. To investigate the utility of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) macaque model for studying HIV-SARS-CoV-2 co-infection, seven female rhesus macaques with chronic SIV infection were co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 (WA-1) and examined for evidence of intrahost viral evolution in the respiratory tract.