Viral load quantification

Plasma viral loads in hu-BLT mice were determined at 2 weeks post-virus-challenge using real-time qRT-PCR. Briefly, viral RNA was extracted using a QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN), and HIV RNA was amplified using a TaqMan® One-Step RT-PCR Master M Mix Reagents Kit (Life Technologies) using primers and conditions that have been published previously [36]. The sensitivity of the assay was 800 copies/ml of plasma.