Persistence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clones in a subject with rapid disease progression

We longitudinally measured T-cell receptor transcript frequencies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL ) in an individual with rapidly progressive disease and high levels of vire mia. CTL clones elicited during acute HIV-1 infection were present at the t ime of death, despite absent functional CTL responses, arguing against clon al deletion as a mechanism for the decline of CTL responses observed during HIV-1 infection.