Comprehensive analyses of a unique HIV-1-infected nonprogressor reveal a complex association of immunobiological mechanisms in the context of replication-incompetent infection

We recently demonstrated that a unique HIV-1-infected nonprogressor was infected with a nonevolving replication-incompetent HIV-1 strain, showing a total absence of viral evolution in vivo. Potent immune responses against HIV-1 were observed in his PBMC, despite an apparent lack of viral replication for at least 8 years. His PBMC resisted superinfection with CCR5, CXCR4, and dual-tropic HIV-1 strains, although highly purified CD4+ T cells supported infection, but without any visible cytopathic effect. Potent noncytolytic CD8+ T cell antiviral activity was shown to protect his PBMC from productive infection. This activity was not mediated by several known chemokines or IFN-gamma, which were produced at high levels after PHA activation of his CD8+ T cells, indicating the action of other CAF-like CD8 factors. This antiviral activity was a memory response, induced by HIV-specific stimulation to similar levels observed by PHA stimulation, but absent in ex vivo resting T cells. Immunological mechanisms associated with this antiviral suppressive activity included vigorous Gag-specific helper T cell proliferative responses and high-level IFN-gamma release by both CD4 and CD8 T cells. These responses were broadly directed against multiple Gag epitopes, both previously reported and some novel epitopes. Strong HIV-specific helper T cell function was also associated with strong neutralizing antibodies. Understanding how to induce these protective immune responses in other individuals could provide a major step forward in the design of effective immunotherapies or vaccines against HIV infection.     

Polyfunctional T cell responses are a hallmark of HIV-2 infection

HIV-2 is distinguished clinically and immunologically from HIV-1 infection by delayed disease progression and maintenance of HIV-specific CD4(+) T cell help in most infected subjects. Thus, HIV-2 provides a unique natural human model in which to investigate correlates of immune protection against HIV disease progression. Here, we report a detailed assessment of the HIV-2-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell response compared to HIV-1, using polychromatic flow cytometry to assess the quality of the HIV-specific T cell response by measuring IFN-gamma, IL-2, TNF-alpha, MIP-1beta, and CD107a mobilization (degranulation) simultaneously following Gag peptide stimulation. We find that HIV-2-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells are more polyfunctional that those specific for HIV-1 and that polyfunctional HIV-2-specific T cells produce more IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha on a per-cell basis than monofunctional T cells. Polyfunctional HIV-2-specific CD4(+) T cells were generally more differentiated and expressed CD57, while there was no association between function and phenotype in the CD8(+) T cell fraction. Polyfunctional HIV-specific T cell responses are a hallmark of non-progressive HIV-2 infection and may be related to good clinical outcome in this setting.     

Determinants of HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses in HIV-infected pediatric patients and enhancement of HIV-gag-specific responses with exogenous IL-15

Cellular immune responses play a central role in controlling HIV-1 infection. HIV-specific IFN-gamma production by CD8 T cells was evaluated in 17 HLA-A2+ HIV-infected pediatric patients (age range 1 month to 16 years) in an ELISPOT assay. Most patients (15/17) exhibited responses to HIV-gag, followed by responses to envelope gp120, gp41, and V3 loop. Only 7 patients responded to all four antigenic peptides. Treatment-related immune reconstitution of CD4 T cells was associated with increase in gag-specific responses, but these declined with prolonged viral suppression. Exogenous IL-15 resulted in augmentation of HIV-gag-specific response in 71% of patients, while IL-2 and IL-7 had variable effects, augmenting responses in 25% patients. Thus, HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses are dependent on both CD4 T-cell help and antigenic stimulation. The cytokine IL-15 may be a useful modality as adjunctive therapy to augment HIV-specific memory CD8 T cells.     

Natural controlled HIV infection: preserved HIV-specific immunity despite undetectable replication competent virus

Long-term non-progressive HIV infection, characterized by low but detectable viral load and stable CD4 counts in the absence of antiviral therapy, is observed in about 5% of HIV-infected patients. Here we identified four therapy na?ve individuals who are strongly seropositive for HIV-1 but who lack evidence of detectable HIV p24 antigen, plasma RNA, and proviral DNA in routine diagnostic testing. With an ultrasensitive PCR, we established that frequencies of pol proviral DNA sequences were as low as 0.2-0.5 copies/10(6) PBMC. HIV could not be isolated using up to 30x10(6) patient PBMC. One individual was heterozygous for CCR5 Delta32, but CCR5 expression on CD4+ T cells was normal to high in all four individuals. In vitro R5 and X4 HIV-1 susceptibility of CD8-depleted PBMC of all study subjects was significantly lower than the susceptibility of CD8-depleted PBMC of healthy blood donors. All individuals expressed protective HLA-B*58s alleles and showed evidence of HIV-specific cellular immunity either by staining with HLA-B*57 tetramers folded with an HIV RT or gag peptide or after stimulation with HIV-1 p24 gag, RT, or nef peptides in ELIspot analysis. HIV-specific CD4+ T helper cells were demonstrated by proliferation of CD4+ T cells and intracellular staining for IL-2 and IFNgamma after stimulation with an HIV-gag peptide pool. Sera of all individuals showed antibody-mediated neutralization of both R5 and X4 HIV-1 variants. These data implicate that very low-level antigen exposure is sufficient for sustained HIV-specific immunity and suggest the possibility of a multi-factorial control of HIV infection.     

T cell activation, apoptosis and cytokine dysregulation in the (co)pathogenesis of HIV and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)

Immune parameters were compared in four groups of Ugandan subjects: HIV-and HIV+ adult patients with active pulmonary TB (HIV- PTB n = 38; HIV+ PTB n = 28), patients with HIV infection only (n = 26) and PPD+ healthy controls (n = 25). Compared with healthy controls, CD4 and CD8 T cells from patients with HIV and/or PTB expressed more activation markers (HLA-DR, CD38); their CD8 T cells expressed more CD95 (pre-apoptosis) and less CD28 (co-stimulatory receptor). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with either HIV or PTB were impaired in interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production upon antigenic stimulation. PTB (with or without HIV) was characterized by monocytosis, granulocytosis, increased transforming growth factor-beta 1 production and PPD-induced apoptosis. In vivo CD4 T cell depletion, in vitro increased spontaneous CD4 T cell apoptosis and defects in IFN-gamma responses upon mitogenic stimulation were restricted to HIV+ subjects (with or without PTB). Overlapping and distinctive immune alterations, associated with PTB and HIV, might explain mutual unfavourable influences of both diseases.     

HIV-specific T lymphocyte immunity in mice immunized with a recombinant vaccinia virus

Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) induces T cell immunity in humans, chimpanzees and macaques. The protective value of this immune response is not clear. We have consequently developed a murine experimental system to study HIV-specific CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte immunity in vitro and in vivo. BALB/c, DBA/2 and C3H/He mice were immunized with vaccinia virus (VV) recombinant VV-11.39 which expresses the gp160 glycoprotein of HIV-1. Primary and secondary cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to HIV were detected with histocompatible mouse target cells transfected with the HIV-1 env gene. Killer cells were positive for the Thy-1 and Ly-2 (CD8) T cell markers, and were restricted by class I H-2 histocompatibility antigens. Immunological memory specific for HIV-1 envelope antigens was clearly induced by vaccination with VV-11.39:spleen cells from mice vaccinated 4 weeks or more prior to assay generated CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte responses following stimulation in vitro with HIV envelope antigens. The intensity of these responses increased with consecutive vaccinations, indicating that HIV-specific precursor T cell pools were progressively amplified. Finally, DBA/2 mice vaccinated with VV-11.39 developed protective immunity against a syngeneic tumor which expresses HIV-1 env antigens, leading to accelerated tumor rejection and increased survival.     

Induction of a strong HIV-specific CD8+ T cell response in mice using a fowlpox virus vector expressing an HIV-1 multi-CTL-epitope polypeptide

Recombinant avipoxvirus vectors are attractive candidates for use in vaccination strategies for infections such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), where induction of a CD8+ T cell response is thought to be an important component of protective immunity. Here, we report the expression of a multiepitope polypeptide (TAB9) composed of the central 15 amino acids of the V3 loop from six different isolates of HIV-1 in a fowlpox virus (FWPV) vector, and the use of this vector (FPTAB9LZ) to induce strong HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses in mice. In animals immunized twice intravenously with FPTAB9LZ, almost 2% of the CD8+ T cells in the spleen were shown to produce IFN-gamma in response to stimulation with HIV-1 peptides 1 week after the second immunization. The most dominant response was to the HIV-1 IIIB peptide. A strong HIV-specific response was also induced by intraperitoneal immunization of mice with FPTAB9LZ, whilst subcutaneous immunization elicited a weaker response. Intraperitoneal immunization with FPTAB9LZ was also shown to provide protection against challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing antigens, including those in TAB9. These results confirm the potential of FWPV vectors for use in HIV vaccination strategies.     

Ex vivo interferon-gamma response to human immunodefiency virus-1 derived peptides in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infected patients

The pattern of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 antigen-activated production of interferon (IFN)-gamma by immunocompetent cells of HIV-1 infected patients has been studied using a simplified assay combining a small volume (25 microliter) of whole blood stimulation with various HIV-1 antigens, and cytokine measurement in the same wells of microtitre plates (enzyme-linked immunotrapping assay, ELITA). The levels of IFN-gamma were higher using this assay than in the supernatant from stimulated whole blood cultures, therefore ELITA was used in the rest of the study. Specific immune responses to HIV-1 proteins (gp120, p24) and synthetic peptides derived from these proteins and from gp41 were detected in patients, but not in healthy controls. Decreased levels of IFN-gamma were observed in CDC class B (n = 5) and C (n = 4), compared with CDC class A (n = 5), following HIV-1 antigen-specific challenge. The positive response of cells from different patients to overlapping peptides of p25 (amino acids 329-344 and 335-351) was suggestive of a new epitope of HIV-1 gag recognized by T cells in the overlap region. In conclusion, the difference in in vitro antigen-specific T-cell responses of HIV-1-infected patients was shown using the ELITA method. Our results raise the possibility of using this method in screening specific antigens in HIV-1 infection.     

Rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of T-cell responses in HIV-1-infected individuals receiving successful HAART and HIV-1 sero-negative controls: concomitant assessment of perforin, IFN-gamma and IL-4 secretion

The enzyme-linked immunospot (ELIspot) assay is a highly sensitive and valuable tool for determining the frequency of cytokine-secreting T cells. It is essential to determine both frequencies and functional capabilities of antigen-specific T cells, including cytokine secretion, degranulation, and cytotoxicity in order to obtain a fuller picture of the immune status of an individual. We describe here for the first time a perforin-release ELIspot assay which, when used in combination with IFN-gamma and IL-4 ELIspots, permits rapid assessment of these functional parameters for antigen-specific T cells. Whole antigen or peptides from HIV-1, recall and other viral antigens were used for in vitro stimulation. Anti-HIV-1 responses in treated chronically infected individuals were weak, both in terms of perforin and IFN-gamma production. Tetanus toxoid stimulation was associated with moderate perforin release and a predominantly type-2 IL-4 producing response, whilst herpes simplex virus antigen stimulation resulted in perforin release but only a weak type-1 IFN-gamma response. Anti-cytomegalovirus responses generated high levels of perforin in conjunction with IFN-gamma. Cytokines IL-2 and IL-12/IL-15 induced perforin release coupled with an IFN-gamma type-1 response. Perforin release strongly correlated with IFN-gamma production to individual influenza, Epstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus MHC class I restricted peptides, in an HIV-1 sero-negative cohort, indicating a cytolytic type-1 CD8+ T-cell response. Evaluation of immunogenicity and putative efficacy of candidate vaccines using IFN-gamma will not be as informative alone as when combined with perforin and IL-4 evaluations, which allow assessment of specific cytotoxic potential without extensive cell culture.     

HIV-Specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) immune responses are generated with a gp120-depleted, whole-killed HIV-1 immunogen with CpG immunostimulatory sequences of DNA.

We examined the adjuvant effects of a synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotide immunostimulatory sequence (ISS) using a whole-killed, gp120-depleted HIV antigen (HIV-1 antigen) in a Lewis rat model. We hypothesized that HIV-1-specific CD4(+) T helper (Th) immune responses could be enhanced when an ISS was combined with an HIV-1 antigen in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA). We also reasoned that if such Th responses were sufficient, such a combination might also induce HIV-specific CD8(+) T cell immune responses. Here we demonstrate that the HIV-1 antigen in IFA combined with ISS stimulates both CD4(+) and CD8(+) HIV-specific immune responses as measured by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the ELISPOT assay. A strong correlation between these CD4(+) and CD8(+) responses was demonstrated. Furthermore, we found that the HIV-1 antigen in IFA with ISS as an adjuvant stimulated strong antibody responses to core antigen (p24). These studies suggest that the combination of the whole-killed, gp120-depleted HIV-1 antigen in IFA with ISS may be an ideal candidate to test in nonhuman primates and in human studies as a preventive HIV-1 vaccine.     

HIV-1 matrix protein p17 modulates in vivo preactivated murine T-cell response and enhances the induction of systemic and mucosal immunity against intranasally co-administered antigens

HIV-1 p17 is a viral cytokine that acts on preactivated, but not on resting, human T cells promoting proliferation, proinflammatory cytokines release and HIV-1 replication, after binding to a cellular receptor (p17R). Here, we demonstrate that p17Rs are expressed on activated murine T cells, which respond to p17 stimulation similarly to their human counterpart. We developed a mouse model of abortive HSV-1 infection to induce T cell activation in vivo. Preactivated cells expressed p17Rs and were highly susceptible to p17 stimulation, which triggered proinflammatory cytokines release and promoted CD4+ T cell survival and expansion. Coculture of in vivo activated splenocytes with macrophages in the presence of p17 further increased their ability to produce IFN-gamma. The presence of macrophages and activated T cells at mucosal sites prompted us to investigate the immunomodulatory activities of p17 in vivo. Intranasal coadministration of p17 with beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) resulted in improved beta-gal specific cellular and humoral immune responses at systemic and mucosal levels. It is well established that HIV-1 replication is driven in an autocrine/paracrine manner by endogenously produced proinflammatory cytokines. Our results highlight the role of p17 in sustaining cellular activation and inflammation, thereby promoting a permissive microenvironment for HIV-1 replication. In addition, p17 is a promising candidate antigen, exhibiting immunomodulatory/adjuvant properties, that need to be exploited in the development of HIV/AIDS vaccines.     

Interleukin-2 reconstitutes defective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) specific CD8+ T cell proliferation in HIV infection

Recent studies indicate that a defective proliferative response of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells is associated with the lack of virologic control in chronic HIV infection in humans. The possible mechanisms that might be responsible for the reduced proliferative potential of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells and conditions conducive to the proliferation of CD8+ T cells were examined in 14 HIV-infected individuals and 7 HIV-uninfected controls using CFSE labeling and flow cytometry techniques, and analyzed data using 2 quantitative measurements: the percentages of proliferating CD8+ T cells (Tp), and the maximum number of cell divisions (Dm) after stimulation. It was found that CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected and -uninfected subjects proliferated equally well after polyclonal stimulation by phylohemagglutinin A (PHA); both groups reached a Tp of 92%-96% and a Dm of 5-8. However, in HIV-infected subjects, proliferation of HIV- and CMV-specific CD8+ T cells was significantly reduced compared to proliferation of CMV- specific CD8+ T cells from HIV-uninfected subjects. These defective proliferative responses of HIV- and CMV-specific CD8+ T cells were restored by the addition of IL-2 at the time of stimulation. These results may have implications for the design of immune modulation strategies in vivo.     

Hemagglutinating virus of Japan protein is efficient for induction of CD4+ T-cell response by a hepatitis B core particle-based HIV vaccine

By using the hepatitis B core (HBc) protein gene as a carrier, HIV-1 env V3 gene was inserted into the carrier gene, and the HIV gene was expressed inside a chimeric HIV-HBc particle (HIV-HBc), which was a unique candidate for induction of HIV-specific CTL activity. This was seen significantly in mice without the need of an adjuvant, because other responses specific for the HIV peptide such as T-cell proliferation and antibody production were not induced. However, when hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) protein was incorporated into an anionic liposome containing HIV peptide (HIV-HVJ-liposome) and was used as a booster immunization in HIV-HBc primed animals, the HIV-specific T-cell response and enhanced CTL activity were clearly induced in consecutively immunized animals. Furthermore, the HIV-specific humoral immune response was also induced and a neutralization activity was detected in the immune sera. Thus, when an HIV peptide antigen is expressed inside the virus like a particle of HBc, it can induce both cellular and humoral immunities when an HVJ-HIV-liposome, but not an HIV-liposome, is inoculated as the booster antigen. The HVJ-stimulated splenocytes secreted IL-18 and IL-12 to synergistically enhance the secretion of IFN-gamma in vitro. These findings suggest that the HVJ protein is effective at inducing the HIV-specific immunities, if used as part of a booster antigen in the consecutive immunization regimen.     

High viral burden in the presence of major HIV-specific CD8(+) T cell expansions: evidence for impaired CTL effector function

To investigate the effect of HIV-specific CD8(+) T cells on viral plasma load and disease progression, we enumerated HLA-A2-, B8- and B57-restricted CD8(+) T cells directed against several HIV epitopes in a total of 54 patients by the use of tetrameric HLA-peptide complexes. In patients with high CD4(+) T cell numbers, HIV-specific tetramer(+) cells inversely correlated with viral load. Patients with CD4(+) T cell numbers below 400/microl blood, however, carried high viral load despite frequently having high tetramer(+) T cell numbers. This lack of correlation between viral load and tetramer(+) cells did not result from viral escape variants, as in only 4 of 13 patients, low frequencies of viruses with mutated epitopes were observed. In 15 patients we measured CD8(+) T cell antigen responsiveness to HIV peptide stimulation in vitro. FACS analyses showed differential IFN-gamma production of the tetramer(+) cells, and this proportion of IFN-gamma-producing tetramer(+) cells correlated with AIDS-free survival and with T cell maturation to the CD27(-) effector stage. These data show that most HIV-infected patients have sustained HIV-specific T cell expansions but many of these cells seem not to be functional, leaving the patient with high numbers of non-functional virus-specific CD8(+) T cells in the face of high viral burden.     

Tuberculosis antigen-specific immune responses can be detected using enzyme-linked immunospot technology in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 patients with advanced disease

There are limited data on the efficacy of T cell-based assays to detect tuberculosis (TB) antigen-specific responses in immune-deficient human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether TB antigen-specific immune responses can be detected in patients with HIV-1 infection, especially in those with advanced disease (CD4 T cell count < 300 cells/microl). An enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, which detects interferon (IFN)-gamma secreted by T cells exposed to TB antigens, was used to assess specific immune responses in a prospective study of 201 HIV-1-infected patients with risk factors for TB infection, attending a single HIV unit. The performance of the ELISPOT assay to detect TB antigen-specific immune responses is independent of CD4 T cell counts in HIV-1 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of this assay for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis does not differ significantly from values obtained in immunocompetent subjects. The negative predictive value of the TB ELISPOT test is 98.2%. A positive predictive value of 86% for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis was found when the combined number of early secretory antigen target-6 (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) IFN-gamma spots to CD4 T cell count ratio was > 1.5. TB antigen-specific immune responses can be detected in HIV patients with low CD4 T cell counts using ELISPOT technology in a routine diagnostic laboratory and is a useful test to exclude TB infection in immune-deficient HIV-1 patients. A combination of TB antigen-specific IFN-gamma responses and CD4 T cell counts has the potential to distinguish active tuberculosis from latent infection.     

Establishment of an alternative intracellular cytokine staining assay for HIV/AIDS clinical studies

To evaluate immune responses in large-scale clinical studies, it is crucial to use assays that are not only sensitive and specific, but also standardized and easily transferable. To this end, an intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay for quantifying HIV-specific CD8+ T cells has been established and its performance characteristics determined. PBMCs were stimulated using recombinant vaccinia expressing HIV-Env, -Gag, -Pol and -Nef proteins, or a protein from Escherichia coli (Eco); CD8+ T cell responses were assessed by intracellular IFN-gamma staining and flow cytometric (FC) analysis. In 15 HIV seronegative and 11 HIV seropositive individuals, a minimal background IFN-gamma staining was found after Eco stimulation with a median [inter-quartile range (IQR)] of 0.005% (0.000%, 0.030%) irrespective of HIV infection status. Recent smallpox vaccination was associated with a small but significant increase in background staining [0.02% (0.02%, 0.04%) versus 0.0% (0.0%, 0.01%) (p=0.039)] in HIV seronegative individuals. This assay detected moderate (>0.10%) HIV-specific responses in 64% (7/11) of HIV seropositive individuals. The results suggest that this ICS assay format is sensitive and specific, and is amenable to standardization for screening for HIV-specific CD8+ T cells in clinical trials.     

CD8+ T细胞对HIV-1合成表位的免疫主导应答研究

目的研究CD8^＋ T细胞对人免疫缺陷病毒1型（HIV-1）表位的免疫主导应答。方法分别采用酶联免疫斑点技术（ELtSPOT）和羧乙基锗倍半氧化物（CFSE）标记流式分析技术，以覆盖HIV-1 Env、Pol、Gag、Vif、Nef、Tat区的701个重叠肽段组成的34个肽段库及其部分单肽段作为刺激表位，对一例感染HIV-1的长期不进展者（LTNP）的外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中CD8^＋ T细胞的了γ-干扰素（IFN-γ）分泌细胞频率和细胞增殖率进行了测定研究。结果HIV-1 Gag区域肽段诱导产生的CD8^＋ T细胞的IFN-γ分泌细胞频率最高，Nef、Tat、Vif区域依次顺减，Env和Pol区域不能诱导产生显著性应答；在IFN-γ ELISPOT实验中，肽段和相应肽段库刺激产生的结果一致；CD8^＋ T细胞在单肽段刺激下，用ELISPOT技术测定的IFN-γ分泌细胞频率和CFSE标记流式分析技术测定的细胞增殖率显示出较好的相关性。结论CD8^＋ T细胞能特异性识别某些HIV-1抗原表位，诱导出免疫主导应答；当进行HIV-1特异性CD8^＋ T细胞反应增殖测定和免疫主导应答研究时，ELISPOT是值得称道的标准实验，同时，推荐一种新颖的CFSE标记流式分析技术。     

A systematic comparison of methods to measure HIV-1 specific CD8 T cells

Several methods are now available to evaluate the frequencies of virus-specific CD8 T cells but require a systematic comparison to help at choosing the best strategy for evaluation. First, we compared the ELISpot-IFNgamma assay, intracellular IFNgamma staining and HLA class I tetramer-binding assay to quantify the HIV-specific CD8 T cells. Second, we determined the frequency of recognition of HIV antigens and evaluated whether the mode of antigen presentation might influence the results: We compared HIV antigen presentation in the same ELISpot-IFNgamma assays by using recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVVs) encoding for HIV-LAI Gag, Pol, Env, Nef, Tat and Vif proteins, or a panel of 49 synthetic 8-11 amino acid length peptides tested either individually or pooled. Third, we compared the antigens recognized by memory CTL analysis using chromium release assay (CRA) on CTL lines and by effector CD8 cell analysis using ELISpot assay. Our results show that: (1) Flow cytometry and ELISpot assay measuring IFNgamma production give the same frequency of HIV-specific CD8 T cells; (2) tetramer-binding assay detects more HIV-specific CD8 T cells than other methods; (3) pools of optimal peptides and sum frequencies of individual optimal peptides give similar results in ELISpot assay; (4) ELISpot assays using peptides are more sensitive than those using rVV; and (5) CRA and ELISpot assay when using rVV provide a comparable profile of HIV antigen recognition by memory CTLs (CRA) and effector CTLs (ELISpot) in two thirds cases. These results have important implications for the choice of immunological methods to evaluate CD8 T cells responses to vaccines.