Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection is characterized by an initial loss of CCR5+CD4+ T cells at mucosal sites of the body [1, 2], and later a gradual decline of central and effector memory CD4+ T cells due to high cell turnover [3], pyroptosis [4], apoptosis [5–7] and/or many other effects that impair normal immune homeostasis [3, 8–10]. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is HIV-1 infection.