Tat sub(28-35)SL8-Specific CD8 super(+) T Lymphocytes Are More Effective than Gag sub(181-189)CM9-Specific CD8 super(+) T Lymphocytes at Suppressing Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Replication in a Functional In Vitro Assay

Epitope-specific CD8 super(+) T lymphocytes may play an important role in controlling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/simian immunodeficiency virus replication. Unfortunately, standard cellular assays do not measure the antiviral efficacy (the ability to suppress virus replication) of CD8 super(+) T lymphocytes. Certain epitope-specific CD8 super(+) T lymphocytes may be better than others at suppressing viral replication. We compared the antiviral efficacy of two immunodominant CD8 super(+) T lymphocyte responses-Tat sub(28-35)SL8 and Gag sub(181-189)CM9-by using a functional in vitro assay. Viral suppression by Tat-specific CD8 super(+) T lymphocytes was consistently greater than that of Gag-specific CD8 super(+) T lymphocytes. Such differences in antigen-specific CD8 super(+)-T-lymphocyte efficacy may be important for selecting CD8 super(+) T lymphocyte epitopes for inclusion in future HIV vaccines.