title: Relative dominance of Gag p24-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes is associated with human immunodeficiency virus control.
abstract: Conflicting data on the role of total virus- and protein-specific cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses in the control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression exist. We present data generated from a Peruvian cohort of untreated, clade B-infected subjects, demonstrating that the proportion of Gag-specific, and in particular p24-reactive, CTL responses among the total virus-specific CTL activity is associated with individuals' CD4 counts and viral loads. Analyses in a second cohort in the United States confirm these findings and point towards a dominant role of Gag-specific immunity in effective control of HIV infection, providing important guidance for HIV vaccine development.
authors.affiliation: Asociación Civil IMPACTA Salud y Educación, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zuñiga
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucchetti
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galvan
authors.forename: Shyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frahm
authors.forename: Caitlyn H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Linde
authors.forename: Hannah S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hewitt
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altfeld
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Bette T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Korber
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leitner
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brander
mesh_terms: D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D016655:HIV Core Protein p24