title: Antigen sensitivity and T-cell receptor avidity as critical determinants of HIV control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Induction of highly effective T cells capable of performing elite control of HIV replication represents a major goal of vaccinology. Here, we review the recent evidence supporting the central role of antigen sensitivity and T-cell receptor (TCR) avidity in determining anti-HIV T-cell efficacy. We discuss why the modulation of these factors represents an interesting approach for the rational design of HIV vaccines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The qualitative attributes of T-cell efficacy against HIV are closely related to the sensitivity of the cells for their cognate antigen, which appears essential to control viral replication in HIV-infected patients and is in turn strongly influenced by TCR avidity. High antigen sensitivity and TCR avidity present also potential caveats, notably T-cell clonal exhaustion and rapid emergence of escape variants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The central role of antigen sensitivity and TCR avidity in determining the quality of T-cell responses against HIV represents a new development in our understanding of the immune control of HIV, and the quest for an effective vaccine. Strategies to improve T-cell efficacy in vaccination approaches may rely on selecting T cells with high antigen sensitivity during priming.
authors.affiliation: INSERM UMR S 945, Infections and Immunity, Avenir Group, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France. victor.appay@upmc.fr
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Appay
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Iglesias
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D006678:HIV / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell