In line with a role of HLA-E in HIV-1 infection, a genetic study in a cohort of Zimbabwean women demonstrated a four-fold reduced risk of HIV-1 acquisition in individuals homozygous for HLA-E*01:03 (HLA-EG) alleles compared to heterozygous or HLA-E*01:01 homozygous individuals. Here, HLA-E is linked to HIV-1 infection.