raw_data_Early_elevated_IFNa

Currently, HIV infection is not curable, but infected individuals can manage their condition by taking daily doses of antiretroviral therapy. Some individuals, known as elite controllers (ECs), are born with natural immunity to HIV, and studying how their immune system responds to HIV exposure could lead to a potential cure for others. Here, we compare immune cell responses between ECs and untreated non-ECs. We find that IFNa, a small protein with an important role in controlling white blood cell activity, is produced in excess in immune cells from non-ECs compared with ECs during early infection. This insight provides an important clue for the future development of a targeted cure for HIV.