HIV-1 Subtype C gag-specific T-cell responses in relation to human leukocyte antigens in a diverse population of HIV-infected Ethiopians.

Journal article

Knowledge of the most dominant T-cell epitopes in the context of the local human leukocyte antigen (HLA) background is a prerequisite for the development of an effective HIV vaccine. In 100 Ethiopian subjects, 16 different HLA-A, 23 HLA-B, and 12 HLA-C specificities were observed. Ninety-four percent of the population carried at least 1 of the 5 most common HLA-A and/or HLA-B specificities. HIV-specific T-cell responses were measured in 48 HIV-infected Ethiopian subjects representing a wide range of ethnicities in Ethiopia using the interferon (IFN)-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (Elispot) assay and 49 clade C-specific synthetic Gag peptides. Fifty-eight percent of the HIV-positive study subjects showed T-cell responses directed to 1 or more HIV Gag peptides. Most Gag-specific responses were directed against the subset of peptides spanning Gag p24. The breadth of response ranged from 1 to 9 peptides, with most (78%) individuals showing detectable responses to <3 Gag peptides. The magnitude of HIV-specific T-cell responses was not associated with HIV viral load but correlated positively with CD4 T-cell counts. The most frequently targeted Gag peptides overlapped with those previously described for HIV-1 subtype C-infected southern Africans, and therefore can be used in a multiethnic vaccine.

Authors: Tsegaye, A; Ran, L; Wolday, D; Petros, B; Dorigo, W

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 389-400
• Publication date: 2007-08-01
• DOI: 10.1097/qai.0b013e318059beaa
• EISSN: 1944-7884
• ISSN: 1525-4135
• Language: English
• Keywords: Gene Products, gag; Ethiopia; HIV-1; Humans; Peptides; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Amino Acid Sequence; Adult; Histocompatibility Testing; HIV Infections; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Middle Aged; Female