title: Why can't the immune system control HIV-1? Defining HIV-1-specific CD4+ T cell immunity in order to develop strategies to enhance viral immunity.
abstract: Globally, at least 60 million people have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the majority of whom will develop the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) leading to tremendous morbidity and the mortality. Understanding the immunopathogenesis of AIDS and the immune correlates of viral protection are necessary to develop effective vaccines and immunotherapies. A major focus of our laboratory has been to understand the CD4+ T cell immune response directed against HIV- 1, and to determine mechanisms of T cell dysfunction that lead to viral escape. In addition, we are interested in evaluating the TNF-TNFR family members as potential molecular adjuvants that could be incorporated into vaccines which could be used to further boost T cell immunogenicity in healthy or HIV-1-infected individuals, as many of these molecules have been shown to replace the functions of CD4+ T cell help.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. m.ostrowski:@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
authors.forename: Qigui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Feng Yun
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Xiao X
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loutfy
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halpenny
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines