HIV-2 AND T-CELL RECOGNITION

HIV-2 is less pathogenic and less transmissible than HIV-1. Recent res earch in relation to deletions in the HIV nef gene and to immune cross -reactions between infections by HIV-2, HIV-1 and simian immunodeficie ncy virus suggests that T cell recognition and the control of viral re plication may be more efficient in HIV-2 infection than in HIV-1 infec tion. These insights may be crucial to the design of effective vaccine s.