Functional effector memory T cells contribute to protection from superinfection with heterologous simian immunodeficiency virus or simian-human immunodeficiency virus isolates in Chinese rhesus macaques.

Many studies have revealed a protective effect of infection of an individual with an immunodeficiency virus against subsequent infection with a heterologous strain. However, the extent of protection against superinfection conferred by the first infection and the biological consequences of superinfection are not well understood. Here, we report that a rhesus monkey model of mucosal superinfection was established to investigate the protective immune response. Protection against superinfection was shown to correlate with the extent of the polyfunctionality of CD4+ effector memory T cells, whereas neutralizing antibody responses did not protect against superinfection in this model. Notably, immunodeficiency-virus-associated effector memory T-cell responses might significantly contribute to the suppression of virus superinfection. This provides a potential theoretical basis for the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine.