Background
Genetic variation in class I HLA impacts the strength, breadth, and depth of anti-HIV adaptive cellular immune responses, while also influencing innate immunity via interaction with killer immunoglobulin receptors (KIR) on natural killer (NK) cells. Allele HLA-A*7401 is found almost exclusively in sub-Saharan African populations with little known about the immune responses it restricts. The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the effects of HLA-A*7401 on disease progression and risk of HIV-1 acquisition in an East African cohort population.