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Question: HIV, class I MHCs, T lymphocytes

Joao Miguel N. Batista df20728 at fisis4.cc.fc.ul.pt
Mon Nov 24 03:30:48 EST 1997


I have a couple of questions about T lymphocytes and HIV. I would greatly
appreciate if anyone could answer my questions, give hints, or anything! 
So, here goes:

1- It is known that the HIV virus infects helper T cells, and that its
   "entry" is done by attaching to the CD4 on the T cell surface. If T
   cells expressed class I MHCs, then cytotoxic T cells could recognize
   and destroy helper T cells infected with a strange virus. Now, my
   questions on this point are:
	a) Does the infected helper T cell produce virus peptides after
	   its entry?
	b) Why the helper T cells do not express class I MHCs on their
	   surface like so many other body cells? By the way, do cytotoxic
	   T cells express them?

2- I understand there are two classes of HIV virus identified, namely
   HIV-1 and HIV-2. What are the differences between them?


That's it. I would like to thank in advance to anyone replying to my 
questions. If possible, I prefer that you mail me your opinions/answers.

		+-----------------------------------------------+
		|"Old astronomers never die,			|
		| they just stargaze closer to the sky."	|
		|   Joao Batista <df20728 at einstein.cc.fc.ul.pt>	|
		|   http://einstein.cc.fc.ul.pt/~df20728/	|
		+-----------------------------------------------+




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