Viral decay kinetics in CD4-depleted and control RMs.

<p>(<b>a</b>) Longitudinal levels (mean±S.E) of viral load, expressed as number of SIVmac251Gag RNA copies per mL of plasma, in ART-treated CD4-depleted (orange square; n = 6) and undepleted control (closed circle; n = 3) RMs. Viral load was assessed at ART-initiation (day 0) as well as at day 7 and day 12 on-ART. (<b>b</b>) In vivo lifespan of the predominant population of productively infected cells was estimated for CD4-depleted and undepleted control RMs based on the viral load changes between day 0 and day 7 (although the same conclusions were reached if we included day 12) showed in (<b>a</b>). Two CD4-depleted RMs were sacrificed before day 7 on-ART (one at day 3 and one at day 6 on-ART; see <a href="http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.1004467#ppat.1004467.s004" target="_blank">Table S1</a>); thus, the graph includes the six CD4-depleted animals for which data were available at day 7 on-ART.