Measurement of HIV-1 CRF02_AG-specific T cell responses indicates the dominance of a p24gag epitope in blood donors in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
Characterization of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-specific immune responses against subtypes circulating in areas where the virus is endemic is critical for the design of candidate vaccines. In Cote d'Ivoire, the most prevalent HIV-1 subtype is CRF02_AG. We detected T cell responses to CRF02_AG consensus p24(gag) or protease peptides in 81% of HIV-1- or HIV-1/2-infected blood donors in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Both the magnitude and the breadth of interferon- gamma enzyme-linked immunospot responses were inversely correlated with plasma viral load. One frequently recognized peptide in p24(gag) was mapped to the optimal epitope (TPQDLNMML). Further studies of this epitope may be important for the development of HIV-1 vaccines for West Africa and West-Central Africa.
Chahroudi
Ann
A
Division of AIDS, STD, and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. achahro@emory.edu
Sawadogo
Souleymane
S
Ellenberger
Dennis
D
Pieniazek
Danuta
D
Borget-Alloue
Maire-Yolande
MY
Aidoo
Michael
M
Koblavi-Deme
Stephania
S
Fernandez-Vina
Marcelo
M
Maurice
Chantal
C
Chorba
Terence
T
Nkengasong
John N
JN
McNicholl
Janet M
JM
D001782:Blood Donors; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015750:Genes, gag / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D004279:DNA, Viral