Contemporary HIV vaccines: Tissue resident T-cells and strategies to prevent mucosal infection

Abstract

HIV is primarily transmitted to women via the cervicovaginal mucosa, with the infection remaining localized for several days prior to systemic dissemination and irreversible damage to the immune system. The early phase during which HIV infection is localized and exhibits little or no viral diversity presents a vantage point for HIV vaccines that stimulate T-cell mediated clearance. CD8+ resident memory T-cells (TRM) are positioned at mucosal entry sites and are established upon resolution of infection by mucosal pathogens. TRM cells are long-lived and locally patrol mucosal tissues. Upon antigenic reactivation, the sentinel-like functions of TRM cells mediate rapid clearance of subsequent in..