Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes control viral infections by lysing infected cells and secreting soluble factors (cytokines) that enhance antiviral immunity and suppress infection. The importance of antiviral killer cells in controlling acute infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the related simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in macaque monkeys has clearly been demonstrated: resolution of the first wave of viremia coincides with the development of HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and macaques depleted of killer cells control SIV poorly. Some viruses, especially herpesviruses, hepatitis viruses, and immunodeficiency viruses, have devised clever strategies to outwit killer cells and thereby persist for the life of . . .