OBJECTIVES
Bacteria purified from the intestinal tract of HIV/AIDS patients were tested for the capacity to be internalised by cells of the HL-60 cell line. Secondly, the bacteria have been applied to the rabbit's colon in order to test their pathogenic ability.
RESULTS
The ability of the bacteria to be internalised by HL-60 cells was found to be very expressive. For a more complex biological characterisation of internalised bacteria, these were applied in 6-day intervals per rectum to NZB x CA rabbits during 8 months. The administered bacteria were detected by dot blot hybridisation using HIV-1 PCR probes in the rabbits' intestinal tract after 2 months. No histological and pathological changes were recorded in the gastrointestinal epithelial cells of rabbits.
CONCLUSIONS
The applied bacteria of HIV/AIDS patients were not colonised in the rabbit's colon and disappeared after 2 months. Differences between HL-60 and rabbit model are discussed.