The present invention features transgenic rodent models for HIV, wherein the transgenic rodent or transgenic rodent cell has incorporated into its genome genes encoding a human CD4 receptor and a human chemokine receptor. In particular the invention relates to transgenic rats, or mice characterized by being susceptible to infection with HIV, capable of expressing HIV structural genes, or HIV replication. The transgenic rodent or rodent cell of this invention is useful for studying the molecular basis of HIV infection, replication and pathogenicity, as well as for the testing of agents for new antiviral or vaccine strategies.