Human Immune Responses to HTLV-III Virus Infections in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The purpose of the research program is to define immune responses of humans to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and the cause of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Immunodeficiency caused by HIV infections may be due to immune mediated lysis (by antibody and/or HIV specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) of infected macrophages and T4 lymphocytes. The definitions of these immune responses to HIV virus are needed for rational approaches for therapy and prevention. Since the project began in October, 1986, we have developed an integrated program of research projects to develop experimental systems required for defining the immune responses of humans to HIV.