Figure 6: CD4+/CD3+ T cell depletion was reduced in HIVNefsmr5a infected NRG mice. NRG mice successfully transplanted with CD34+ HSCs were infected with either HIVwt (n=2) or HIVNefsmr5a (n=3) NL4-3 virus. (A-C) At various weeks post-infection, mice were bled and the plasma was analyzed by Q-PCR using a primer/ probe pair specific for HIV pol gene and PBMCs were analyzed by flow cytometry for total CD45+ human CD4+/CD3+ T cell percentage. (A) Disruption of the SMR motif did not impair in vivo viral replication and (B-C) disruption of the SMR motif resulted in a significant reduction in depletion of CD4+/CD3+ T cells relative to HIVwt. (D) Disruption of the SMR motif also resulted in preservation of CD4+/CD3+ T cells in the spleen of HIVNefsmr5a infected mice relative to HIVwt. Error bars represent SEM from the mean. Differences between groups were determined using an unpaired student t-test *p<0.05.