Differentiation and activation of CD45RO⁻/RA⁺ CD27⁺ HIV-specific CD8⁺ T cells in HAART-treated participants. (A) PBMCs were isolated from HAART-treated participants and labeled with HIV-multimer-PE; CCR7-FITC, CD28-FITC, or CD62L-FITC; CD45RO-ECD and CD8-PC5. Representative phenotypes gated on CD45RO⁻/RA⁺ CD8⁺ T cells. The majority of CD45RO⁻/RA⁺ HIV-specific CD8⁺ T cells did not express CCR7, CD28, or CD62L as opposed to global CD45RO⁻/RA⁺ HIV-multimer negative CD8⁺ T cells. (B) PBMCs were isolated from HAART-treated participants and stained with HIV-multimer-PE; CD38-FITC, HLA-DR-FITC, or Ki-67-FITC; CD45RO-ECD and CD8-PC5. Representative phenotypes gated on HIV-specific CD8⁺ T cells.