In acute HIV infection, the emergence of HIV-specific CD8+ T-cells coincides with the decline of virus load from peak to set point (17–19), and CD8+ T-cells targeting conserved regions of the HIV proteome (from which the virus is unable to escape without a fitness cost) have been associated with superior virus control in long-term non-progressors (20–25). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is HIV infectious disease.