In addition to declining expression of cytolytic proteins in SIV-specific CD8+ T cells following peak viremia, we found tissue-specific disparities in expression of perforin, granzyme B, and the transcription factor T-bet that provide some resolution to the previously described observation of poor effector functions in CD8+ T cells from lymph node tissue during chronic HIV infection [36]. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is HIV infectious disease.