Title: Clonal Analysis of mucosal SIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses
Description: CD8+ T cells responses are critical in the immune defense against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection. A major challenge for vaccine development is that HIV/SIV can rapidly mutate to escape containment by the CD8+ T cell response. Therefore, optimal virus control by a vaccine will likely require clonally diverse CD8+ T cells capable of recognizing mutant viruses. Mucosal tissues play a fundamental role in early HIV/SIV pathogenesis by serving as the site for viral entry, CD4+ T cell depletion, and a reservoir for viral replication. Vaccine strategies that induce effective mucosal immunity will likely be critical for protection against HIV/SIV.