Herein, a single unilateral injection of EcoHIV (1 × 106 pg) directly into the caudate putamen resulted in a significant increase in inflammatory markers TNFα, IL-1β, IFNγ, CCL2, CCL3 and CXCL10 5 days after infection (Figs 3 and 4). This evidence concerns the gene CCL3 and infection.