PIXE studies of normal and SIV-infected rhesus macaque tissues: investigations of particulate matter

Abstract Positron Emission Tomography (PET) studies [1] of the evolution Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) (the monkey analogue Human (HIV) have revealed that SIV is localised in different organs at stages infection. Promising routes to completely eradicate HIV virus particles involve therapies target infection cellular level. Our previous μ -Particle Induced X-ray ( μ- PIXE) very large variations contents heavy minor and trace elements jejunum control SIV-infected subjects. These could be caused by factors such as histological preparation chyme. The present work investigates particulate matter observed tissue sections both virus-infected subjects dominated mean elemental content determined -PIXE. Detailed study PIXE data suggested with size 10’s m were likely made up agglomerated nano-particles. measured composition was consistent natural calcified brain (acervuli or “Brain sand”), tattoo ink a mesenteric lymph node silica liver.