Functional studies with CD45 inhibitors in relevant in vitro and in vivo models of HIV-1 infection will provide information on whether a therapeutic reduction of CD45 expression on CD8 + T cells during HIV-1 infection may empower more efficient killing of HIV-1 infected cells by CD8 + T cells thus possibly leading to a reduced size of virus reservoirs. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is HIV-1 infection.