The role of mucosal immunity in development of an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) vaccine: workshop summary.

As the AIDS pandemic spreads, the importance of developing effective vaccines against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) assumes increasing importance. Since prevention of any disease is a preferred goal, extensive efforts are being devoted to development of an effective vaccine capable of preventing HIV infection and/or disease. Although many investigators are studying the systemic immune response to HIV, relatively little is known about the mucosal immune response to HIV. A workshop was held to identify the basic research issues in mucosal immunity which need to be addressed in order to rationally design an effective vaccine against HIV. This summary emphasizes the salient points of the papers presented and identifies the unanswered questions.