In order to evaluate whether or not blood DCs were associated with SIV (SIV RNA) or active viral replication in vivo (SIV DNA), we obtained highly purified CD1c+ mDCs, CD16+ mDCs, and CD123+ pDCs pre-infection and days 8 (acute), 21 (post-acute) and 40 (late stage) after infection. Here, CD1C is linked to infection.