A Monte-Carlo based model of the AX-PET demonstrator and its experimental validation.

AX-PET is a novel PET detector based on axially oriented crystals and orthogonal wavelength shifter (WLS) strips, both individually read out by silicon photo-multipliers. Its design decouples sensitivity and spatial resolution, by reducing the parallax error due to the layered arrangement of the crystals. Additionally the granularity of AX-PET enhances the capability to track photons within the detector yielding a large fraction of inter-crystal scatter events. These events, if properly processed, can be included in the reconstruction stage further increasing the sensitivity. Its unique features require dedicated Monte-Carlo simulations, enabling the development of the device, interpreting data and allowing the development of reconstruction codes. At the same time the non-conventional design of AX-PET poses several challenges to the simulation and modeling tasks, mostly related to the light transport and distribution within the crystals and WLS strips, as well as the electronics readout. In this work we present a hybrid simulation tool based on an analytical model and a Monte-Carlo based description of the AX-PET demonstrator. It was extensively validated against experimental data, providing excellent agreement.

Live attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)mac in macaques can induce protection against mucosal infection with SIVsm.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether vaccination of macaques with attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)macC8 could induce long-term protective immunity against rectal exposure to SIVsm and intravenous exposure to the more divergent HIV-2. DESIGN AND METHODS: Eight months after vaccination with live attenuated SIVmacC8, four cynomolgus monkeys were challenged with SIVsm intrarectally and another four vaccinated monkeys were challenged with HIV-2 intravenously. Sixteen months after SIVmacC8 vaccination, another two monkeys were challenged with SIVsm across the rectal mucosa. Two vaccinees shown to be protected against SIVsm were rechallenged 8 months after the first challenge. Ten naive animals were used as controls. Serum antigenaemia, virus isolation, antibody responses, cell-mediated immunity and CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subpopulations were monitored. PCR-based assays were used to distinguish between virus populations. RESULTS: At the time of challenge, eight out of 10 vaccinees were PCR-positive for SIVmacC8 DNA but no virus could be isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After SIVsm challenge, three out of six vaccinees were repeatedly SIVsm PCR-negative. In one of the three infected monkeys, the challenge virus was initially suppressed but the monkey ultimately developed AIDS after increased replication of the pathogenic virus. Rechallenged monkeys remained protected. All HIV-2-challenged vaccinees became superinfected. All controls became infected with either SIVsm or HIV-2. At the time of challenge the vaccinees had neutralizing antibodies to SIVmac but no demonstrable cross-neutralizing antibodies to SIVsm or HIV-2. Titres of antigen-binding or neutralizing antibodies did not correlate with protection. Cytotoxic T-cell responses to SIV Gag/Pol and virus-specific T-cell proliferative responses were low. CONCLUSION: The live attenuated SIVmacC8 vaccine was able to induce long-term protection against heterologous intrarectal SIVsm challenge in a proportion of macaques but not against the more divergent HIV-2, which was given intravenously.

Protection from pathogenic SIVmac challenge following short-term infection with a nef-deficient attenuated virus.

Infection of rhesus macaques with attenuated SIVmac is, at present, the only strategy which confers significant protection from challenge with wild-type SIVmac grown in monkey PBMC. However, initial results suggest that the protective mechanism does not develop until late after "vaccination" (approx 10 months). As part of a European study using the C8 variant of SIVmac251-32H (containing an in-frame 12-bp deletion in the nef gene), we wished to determine (a) if protection could be achieved against challenge with a "swarm" of SIVmac251-32H produced in monkey cells and (b) if protection could be demonstrated after a short period of infection with the attenuated virus. Eight Indian rhesus macaques were infected with C8 and four were challenged after 10 weeks with 50 MID50 of an uncloned stock of SIVmac251-32H grown in rhesus cells, and the other four were challenged after 20 weeks. Four animals served as naive controls. Three of the four monkeys challenged at 10 weeks and three of those challenged at 20 weeks were protected from productive superinfection. From one monkey in each group it was, however, possible to demonstrate the presence of the wild-type provirus in monkey PBMC by diagnostic PCR and anamnestic immune response. There was no apparent correlation between the levels of binding or neutralizing antibodies on the day of challenge and subsequent protection. Approximately 1 year after infection with the attenuated virus all monkeys were rechallenged with the heterologous SIVsm strain, first with 10-20 MID50 and then with 1000 MID50. Although not all of the SIVsm-inoculated naive controls became productively infected, PCR analysis failed to reveal any evidence for infection of the "immunized" monkeys.