New insights into evaluating effective T-cell responses to HIV.

Abstract

Towards addressing questions related to HIV pathogenesis and vaccine design we are fortunate to have the availability of the SIV-infected rhesus macaque model. The strengths of this model which include a rapid rate of progression to AIDS and knowledge of the dose route and strain of the infecting virus complement studies in HIV-infected patients in which the reagents host genetics and access to samples are more extensive and better defined. Unfortunately there is currently still too little known about the antiviral immune responses in either system to directly and accurately compare their similarities and differences and to draw any definitive conclusions. Therefore the data and views presented herein will simply reflect what has recently been discovered in both humans and non-human primate studies. (excerpt)