HIV vaccine candidates generate in vitro T cell response to putative epitopes in Chinese-origin rhesus macaques

► We immunized 40 Chinese rhesus macaques with 3 different HIV vaccine candidates. ► We used ELISPOT to screen PBMCs with p24C and gp140C peptides and fusion proteins. ► Six monkeys responded in vitro to a total of 15 peptides. ► Overlaps suggest 5 peptides of interest with similarities to known HLA-I epitopes. ► 28 monkeys responded in vitro to fusion proteins LFn-p24C and/or LFn-gp140C.