Characteristics of effective immune control of simian/human immunodeficiency virus in pigtail macaques

Abstract

Considerable evidence suggests both HIV-specific T cells and neutralizing antibodies (nAb) can, separately, assist control of viremia. T cell and nAb responses were studied in detail in three pigtail macaques protected from chronic simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) viremia by DNA prime/fowlpoxvirus boost vaccine regimens. Immunity was studied both after an initial intrarectal SHIV challenge, as well as during CD8 T cell depletion and a subsequent intravenous SHIV rechallenge. Remarkably, SHIV-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells were detectable in the absence of viremia following an initial SHIV challenge in one animal, subsequent to recovery from CD8 T cell depletion in all three animals, ..