Infection of ectocervical tissue explants with transmitted/founder (T/F) HIV-1.

Infection of ectocervical explants with pCH077.t/2627 (pCH077), pRHPA.c/2635 (pRHPA), and pTHRO.c/2626 (pTHRO) was performed after an initial treatment with seminal plasma (SP) 25% (see S1B Fig). A-C) Kinetics of virus replication in explants treated with SP (colored line) or culture medium (CM) (black line). Virus replication was evaluated as p24_gag concentration in explant culture medium over 18 days. Represented are mean values with s.e.m. (n = 3 for pCH077; n = 3 for pRHPA; n = 4 for pTHRO). D-E) HIV-1 DNA copy numbers in infected explants harvested at the end of culture (day18). Values were normalized to the amount of the single-copy gene HBB. E) Donor-matched explants were independently infected with HIV-1_BaL and at least one T/F virus (n = 3). Donor-matched explants are indicated with the same symbol. F) Exogenously activated PBMCs were infected with T/F HIV-1 produced in 293T cells. HIV-1 replication was evaluated as p24_gag concentration in culture supernatant (red) and HIV-1 DNA copy numbers (black) in cells harvested at the end of culture (day 8–10 post-infection) (n = 1).