title: Lack of detectable HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T cell responses in Zambian HIV-1-exposed seronegative partners of HIV-1-positive individuals.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific T cell responses were characterized in a blinded study involving infected individuals and their seronegative exposed uninfected (EU) partners from Lusaka, Zambia. HIV-1-specific T cell responses were detected ex vivo in all infected individuals and amplified, on average, 27-fold following in vitro expansion. In contrast, no HIV-1-specific T cell responses were detected in any of the EU partners ex vivo or following in vitro expansion. These data demonstrate that the detection of HIV-1-specific T cell immunity in EU individuals is not universal and that alternative mechanisms may account for protection in these individuals.
authors.affiliation: Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129-2000, USA. maddo@partners.org
authors.forename: Marylyn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Addo
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altfeld
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Brainard
authors.forename: Almas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rathod
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piechocka-Trocha
authors.forename: Ulgen
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fideli
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulenga
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shutes
authors.forename: Donna Marie L
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Alvino
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008297:Male; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015024:Zambia