Immune Escape Precedes Breakthrough Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Viremia and Broadening of the Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Response in an HLA-B27-Positive Long-Term-Nonprogressing Child

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.78.16.8927-8930.2004
• Publication Date: 2004-07-27T18:42:49Z
• Authors: M. E. Feeney; Y. Tang; K. A. Roosevelt; A. J. Leslie; K. McIntosh; N. Karthas; B. D. Walker; P. J. R. Goulder
• Keywords: CTL*; Viremia

The emergence of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) escape mutations in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proteins has been anecdotally associated with progression to AIDS, but it difficult determine whether viral mutation is the cause or result increased replication. Here we describe a perinatally HIV-infected child who maintained plasma load <400 copies/ml for almost decade until nonbinding emerged within immunodominant CTL epitope. subsequently experienced reemergence HIV-1 viremia accompanied by marked increase number epitopes targeted. This temporal pattern suggests that CD8 can play causal role loss immune control.