Moreover, if we compare these experimental data with our previously reported results obtained with HIV-1 infection in vitro[17], the degree of killing of autologous, exogenously HIV-1 infected CD4+ cell blasts by NK cells from healthy donors appears to be markedly higher compared to killing by of highly dysfunctional NK cells obtained from HIV-1 infected viremic individuals. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is HIV-1 infection.