[AIDS and opportunistic virus infections].

The opportunistic herpesvirus infections in AIDS are often life-threatening and the patients have lowered Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T cell cytotoxicity. On the other hand, the asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) carriers have potentially lowered EBV-specific cytotoxic T cell function, which is shown by exposure of the lymphocytes to an immunosuppressive substance. The EBV-specific T cell cytotoxicity may therefore tell the timing to cope with such opportunistic viral infections.