NIH/NIAID Mucosal CTL Induction After HIV Exposure and Vaccination
The specific aims of the proposal are: 1) to identify viral and host factors associated with the induction and maintenance of mucosal CD8+ CTL in HIV-1 infected women; 2) investigate longitudinal CTL responses in HIV-1-infected persons at the clonal level and correlate the persistence, function and diversity of CTL in the mucosa with recognition of autologous virus; 3) determine if HIV-1-specific CTL in the genital tract and rectum can be induced by candidate HIV-1-vaccines through mucosal and/or systemic administration.