Development of a polychromatic flow cytometry panel for the evaluation of HIV-specific T cell responses

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-115).Investigating T cell responses in HIV infection has revealed several correlates of viral control, but their importance is not fully understood. Further studies to understand the relationship between HIV and the immune system are warranted. The advent of polychromatic flow cytometry has allowed for in depth analysis of T cell functions and phenotypes in HIV infection, including the measurement of T cells that can produce multiple immune molecules simultaneously. The aim of this study was to develop a polychromatic flow cytometry panel to measure multiple functional markers, and optimise a stimulation and staining protocol for use in the laboratory