Frequencies of Gag-restricted T-cell escape “footprints” differ across HIV-1 clades A1 and D chronically infected Ugandans irrespective of host HLA B alleles

These findings imply that HIV-1 vaccine strategies designed to target structurally constrained T-cell epitopes may be further challenged by clade-driven outcomes in specific HLA-restricted Gag epitopes. Equally, the data are line with slower HIV-1 disease progression in clade A infection; and raise hope that increased selective pressure on Gag may be protective irrespective of host HLA alleles.