Novel Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) Model of Human Herpesvirus 6A and 6B Infections: Immunologic, Virologic and Radiologic Characterization

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003138
• Publication Date: 2013-01-31T21:53:47Z
• Authors: Emily Leibovitch; Jillian E. Wohler; Sheila M. Cumming...; Kelsey Motanic; Erin Harberts; María I. Gaitán; Pietro Maggi; Mary Ellis; Susan Westmoreland; Afonso Silva; Daniel S. Reich; Steven Jacobson
• Keywords: Brain -- pathology -- virology; Herpesvirus 6, Human; 630; Viral -- analysis; Biology (General); Immune Response; 0303 health sciences; Viral Immune Evasion; Spinal Cord -- pathology -- virology; Brain; Callithrix; Animal Models; Sciences bio-médicales et agricoles; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Viral Persistence and Latency; DNA, Viral -- analysis; 3. Good health; Intranasal; Spinal Cord; Administration; Injections, Intravenous; Intravenous; Research Article; Neurovirulence; QH301-705.5; Immunology; Roseolovirus Infections; Neuroimaging; Nervous System Diseases -- diagnosis -- immunology -- virology; Microbiology; Injections; Herpesvirus 6, Human -- pathogenicity -- physiology; 03 medical and health sciences; Human -- pathogenicity -- physiology; Model Organisms; Roseolovirus Infections -- diagnosis -- immunology -- virology; Callithrix -- physiology; Virology; Animals; Humans; Herpesvirus 6; Biology; Administration, Intranasal; Animal; DNA; RC581-607; Marmoset; Animal Models of Infection; Viral Disease Diagnosis; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Models; DNA, Viral; Immunologic diseases. Allergy; Nervous System Diseases; Viral Transmission and Infection; Neuroscience

Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a ubiquitous virus with an estimated seroprevalence of 95% in the adult population. HHV-6 associated several neurologic disorders, including multiple sclerosis, inflammatory demyelinating disease affecting CNS. Animal models infection would help clarify its role human but have been slow to develop because rodents lack CD46, receptor for cellular entry. Therefore, we investigated effects infections non-human primate, common marmoset Callithrix jacchus. We inoculated total 12 marmosets HHV-6A and HHV-6B intravenously intranasally. Animals were monitored 25 weeks post-inoculation clinically, immunologically by MRI. Marmosets exhibited symptoms generated virus-specific antibody responses, while those asymptomatic comparatively lower responses. Viral DNA was detected at low frequency paraffin-embedded CNS tissue subset intravenously. When different routes inoculation compared, intravenous resulted responses infrequent detection viral periphery, intranasal negligible frequent periphery. Moreover, symptoms, intranasally asymptomatic. demonstrate that model can serve further define contribution this disorders.