Natural hosts of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)—such as African green monkeys—have evolved to tolerate SIV infection without developing immune deficiency. Jason Brenchley and his colleagues provide a mechanism. They show that CD4+ T cells from these animals downregulate the CD4 receptor upon entering the memory pool. Immune functions normally attributed to CD4+ T cells are preserved, but the cells become resistant to SIV infection.
- Coreen M Beaumier
- Levelle D Harris
- Jason M Brenchley
