Identification of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C Gag-, Tat-, Rev-, and Nef-specific elispot-based cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses for AIDS vaccine design.

ABSTRACT: The most severe human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic is occurring in southern Africa. It is caused by HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C). In this study we present the identification and analysis of cumulative cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses in the southern African country of Botswana. CTLs were shown to be an important component of the immune response to control HIV-1 infection. The definition of optimal and dominant epitopes across the HIV-1C genome that are targeted by CTL is critical for vaccine design. The characteristics of the predominant virus that causes the HIV-1 epidemic in a certain geographic area and also the genetic background of the population, through the distribution of common HLA class I alleles, might impact dominant CTL responses in the vaccinee and in the

SUBMITTER: Novitsky V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC114489 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature