Genetic evolution of non-human primate (NHP) lentiviruses towards HIV in humanized mice

In this project, our goal is to evaluate and understand how simian immunodeficiency viruses from NHPs, the progenitors of HIV-1 and HIV-2, evolved after the initial cross-species transmission to the human. Using humanized mice with a transplanted human immune system as a human surrogate model, we conducted serial passages of SIVs in vivo to simulate sequential viral evolution that may have given rise to HIVs. This strategy allowed us to identify the potential genetic changes that occur due to the selection pressures imposed by human host restriction factors and various immune pressures. Plasma viral RNA was collected from infected mice at multiple timepoints across multiple serial passages. Illumina sequencing was performed to identify individual mutations as they arose in the viral population.