Short Communication: Identification of a Novel HIV Type 1 CRF01_AE Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) Epitope Restricted by an HLA-Cw0602 Allele and a Novel HLA-A0206/Peptide Restriction

This report describes specific T cell responses to HIV-1 CRF01_AE Env and A Gag peptides in 20 HIV-1 CRF01_–AE-infected Thai individuals using an interferon-γ (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay. Twenty-six potentially novel HLA class I-restricted CD8⁺ T cell epitopes were identified in 14/20 subjects. Fine mapping analysis using the chromium release cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay revealed a novel HLA-Cw0602 restricted epitope of HIV-1 CRF01_AE Env (NAKTIIVHL) and a previously identified HIV-1 A Gag epitope (ATLEEMMTA) with a novel HLA-A0206 restriction.