The comparative value of feline virology research: can findings from the feline lentiviral vaccine be translated to humans?

Hosie, M. J. , Techakriengkrai, N., Beczkowski, P. M., Harris, M., Logan, N. and Willett, B. (2017) The comparative value of feline virology research: can findings from the feline lentiviral vaccine be translated to humans? Veterinary Sciences, 4(1), 7. (doi: 10.3390/vetsci4010007)

Abstract

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus of domestic cats that shares several similarities with its human counterpart, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Their analogies include genomic organization, lymphocyte tropism, viral persistence and induction of immunodeficiency. FIV is the only lentivirus for which a commercial vaccine is registered for prevention in either human or veterinary medicine. This provides a unique opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of protection induced by lentivirus vaccines at the population level and might contribute to the development of efficacious HIV vaccines. As well as having comparative value for vaccine studies, FIV research has shed some light on the relationship between lentiviral tropism and pathogenesis. Recent studies in our laboratory demonstrated that the interaction between FIV and its primary receptor changes as disease progresses, reminiscent of the receptor switch observed as disease progresses in HIV infected individuals. Here we summarise findings illustrating that, in addition to its veterinary significance, FIV has comparative value, providing a useful model to explore lentivirus–host interactions and to examine potential immune correlates of protection against HIV infection.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hosie, Professor Margaret and Willett, Professor Brian and Beczkowski, Dr Pawel and HARRIS, MATTHEW and Logan, Miss Nicola
• Authors: Hosie, M. J., Techakriengkrai, N., Beczkowski, P. M., Harris, M., Logan, N., and Willett, B.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Veterinary Sciences
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2306-7381
• ISSN (Online): 2306-7381
• Published Online: 28 January 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Veterinary Sciences 4(1):7
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License