Source: Introini, A., et al., Ex Vivo Infection of Human Lymphoid Tissue and Female Genital Mucosa with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Histoculture. J. Vis. Exp. (2018).
This video demonstrates ex vivo infection of human uterine mucosal tissue with human immunodeficiency virus type 1, HIV-1, and their maintenance on top of gelatin sponges at the air-liquid interface. This method allows monitoring of HIV-1 replication and pathogenesis within human tissues.
All procedures involving human participants have been performed in compliance with the institutional, national, and international guidelines for human welfare and have been reviewed by the local institutional review board.
1. Dissection and Infection of Uterine Cervical Mucosa
NOTE: For optimal results, explants of cervical mucosae should be processed and infected as soon as possible after surgery, ideally on the same day of surgery. Alternatively, specimens can be stored submerged in CMT (Culture Media supplemented with antibiotics) at 4°C overnight, and infected immediately after dissection.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Gelfoam 12-7 mm Absorbable gelatin sponge | Pfizer | NDC: 0009-0315-08 | Gelfoam and Spongostan perform equally well in histocuture for both tonsillar and cervical tissue. |
SPONGOSTAN Standard 70 × 50 × 10 mm Absorbable hemostatic gelatin sponge | Ferrosan Medical Devices | MS0002 | Gelfoam and Spongostan perform equally well in histocuture for both tonsillar and cervical tissue. |
RPMI 1640 with phenol red and glutamine | ThermoFisher Scientific | 21875034 | To RPMI1640 add MEM nonessential aminoacids, sodium pyruvate, gentamicin, amphotericin B and FBS 15% (v/v) to make culture medium (CM). |
Sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) pH 7.4 w/o calcium, magnesium and phenol red | To use for storage and transportation of surgical specimens. PBS can be replaced with another isotonic solution with physiologic pH. Culture medium is best for overnight storage. | ||
Sterile cell culture-grade water | |||
70% ethanol solution | |||
Disinfectant solution for biological waste disposal | |||
Sterile metal forceps or tweezers | |||
Sterile metal scissors | |||
Sterile flat weighing metal spatula | |||
Sterile scalpels and blades | |||
6-well cell culture plates | |||
Sterile Petri dish, 100 mm × 20 mm | |||
Cell-free HIV-1 viral preparation HIV-1BaL | NIH AIDS Reagent Program | 510 | The virus should be propagated to generate a stock large enough to perform several experiments. Aliquote virus suspension and store at -80 °C. Avoid repeated freezing and thawing. |
Cell-free HIV-1 viral preparation HIV-1LAI.04 | NIH AIDS Reagent Program | 2522 | The virus should be propagated to generate a stock large enough to perform several experiments. Aliquote virus suspension and store at -80 °C. Avoid repeated freezing and thawing. |
Sterile 1.5 and 2mL screw cap tubes | |||
Water bath set at 37 °C | |||
Biological safety cabinet | |||
Dry bath shaker with heating block for 1.5 mL tubes, set at 37 °C, 300 rpm |