Mucosal Vaccines Against HIV/SIV Infection

Abstract Sexual HIV transmission occurs via the intrarectal or intravaginal route, followed by massive acute depletion of HIV-targeted memory CD4+ T cells in the gut mucosal tissues. Therefore, development of a vaccine inducing effective mucosal anti-HIV immune responses is a priority for global HIV control. Multiple attempts have been made to determine mechanisms of HIV protection and control by antibodies and/or T cells with the goal of developing an effective mucosal HIV vaccine.