Open AccessT-Cell Vaccination Reduces Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Levels in Semen
Author(s) -
James B. Whitney,
Corinne Luedemann,
Peter Hraber,
Srinivas S. Rao,
John R. Mascola,
Gary J. Nabel,
Norman L. Letvin
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.617
H-Index - 292
eISSN - 1070-6321
pISSN - 0022-538X
DOI - 10.1128/jvi.01202-09
Subject(s) - biology , simian immunodeficiency virus , virology , semen , transmission (telecommunications) , virus , immune system , vaccination , immunology , viral replication , simian , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , lentivirus , sexual transmission , viral disease , genetics , microbicide , electrical engineering , engineering
Recent findings suggest that most sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) occurs during the acute phase of infection when viral replication is most intense. Here, we show that vaccine-elicited cellular immune responses can significantly reduce simian immunodeficiency virus levels in the semen during the period of primary infection in monkeys. A vaccine that decreases the quantity of HIV-1 in the semen of males during primary infection might decrease HIV-1 transmission in human populations and therefore affect the spread of AIDS.