Surenaud M, Montes M, Arlehamn CSL, et al. – Researchers characterized HIV-specific T-cell responses in cART (combination antiretroviral therapy) treated HIV-1 infected patients after vaccination with ex vivo-generated IFNα Dendritic Cells (DCs) loaded with LIPO-5 (HIV-1 Nef 66–97, Nef 116–145, Gag 17–35, Gag 253–284 and Pol 325–355 lipopeptides). They found that HIV-specific CD8+ T and CD4+ T cells targeted dominant and subdominant epitopes from Gag, Pol, and Nef vaccine regions, and that there is a significant correlation of vaccine-elicited HIV-specific CD4+ T cells producing IL-2 and IL-13, with a better viral control following treatment interruption. Their findings underscore the role of vaccine-elicited CD4+ T-cell responses in attaining control of HIV replication and thus may assist in designing better therapeutic vaccines.