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Selection of T-cell vaccine antigens for chronic persistent viral infections has been largely empirical. To define the relationship, at the population level, between the specificity of the cellular immune response and viral control for a relevant human pathogen, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the 160 dominant CD8(+) T-cell responses in 578 untreated HIV-infected individuals from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Of the HIV proteins targeted, only Gag-specific responses were associated with lowering viremia. Env-specific and Accessory/Regulatory protein-specific responses were associated with higher viremia. Increasing breadth of Gag-specific responses was associated with decreasing viremia and increasing Env breadth with increasing viremia. Association of the specific CD8(+) T-cell response with low viremia was independent of HLA type and unrelated to epitope sequence conservation. These population-based data, suggesting the existence of both effective immune responses and responses lacking demonstrable biological impact in chronic HIV infection, are of relevance to HIV vaccine design and evaluation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/nm1520

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat Med

Publication Date

01/2007

Volume

13

Pages

46 - 53

Keywords

Adult, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Female, Gene Products, env, Gene Products, gag, HIV Infections, HLA Antigens, Humans, Male, South Africa, Viral Load, Viral Proteins, Viremia