These include the parallel decrease of HIV-1 viral load with the peak of the CD8+ T cell response during the acute phase of infection [36], the rapid clearance of the transmitted virus strain [37], the loss of control of SIV infection in macaques after removal of their CD8+ T cells [38,39] and the association of particular HLA class I alleles with better control of the infection [40,41]. Here, CD8A is linked to infection.