LAUSR

Significance Anti-viral CD8 T cells express high levels of the co-inhibitory receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1) during chronic HIV and Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections and in vivo PD-1 blockade during chronic SIV infection restores CD8 T-cell function and improves viral control. However, it is important to define at what stage of chronic infection PD-1 blockade provides the most therapeutic benefit. In this report, we show a short-term PD-1 blockade administered 4 weeks after anti-retroviral therapy interruption provides substantial therapeutic benefit by improving the function of anti-viral CD8 T-cell immunity and rapidly controlling viremia.