T-cell vaccination reduces simian immunodeficiency virus levels in semen.
Recent findings suggest that most sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) occurs during the acute phase of infection when viral replication is most intense. Here, we show that vaccine-elicited cellular immune responses can significantly reduce simian immunodeficiency virus levels in the semen during the period of primary infection in monkeys. A vaccine that decreases the quantity of HIV-1 in the semen of males during primary infection might decrease HIV-1 transmission in human populations and therefore affect the spread of AIDS.
Whitney
James B
JB
Division of Viral Pathogenesis, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Luedemann
Corinne
C
Hraber
Peter
P
Rao
Srinivas S
SS
Mascola
John R
JR
Nabel
Gary J
GJ
Letvin
Norman L
NL
D000818:Animals; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D015684:Gene Products, pol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018449:SAIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D019562:Viral Load
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015684:Gene Products, pol; D012367:RNA, Viral; D018449:SAIDS Vaccines