The search for immune correlates of controlled HIV infectionGCOE Program Sminar(Global Education Seminar)

The characterization of HIV-specific T cell immunity and the design of HIV vaccine immunogen sequences are based on a combination of in vitro test systems and ex-vivo immune analyses in samples from HIV infected individuals. T cells targeting specific regions of the viral proteome are being associated with superior ability to exert viral control in vitro as well as in vivo. Some of these responses are now tested for their ability to inhibit in vitro HIV replication and are being contrasted to responses that targeted generally more variably regions of HIV. Putting these observed responses in the context of host genetics, especially HLA class I polymorphisms, will allow us to assess whether focused immunogen selection is feasible while still covering the broad HLA diversity in the tested populations. The studies will have considerable implications for HIV vaccine immunogen design.