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Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Spring in My Step," by Kelly Rawlings in the March 12, 2012 issue, "Test With Success," in the April 2012 issue, and "Rodeo Hero," in the April 2012 issue. INSET: Opening Doors.

We have developed an immunotherapeutic approach with potential application in the treatment of viral and malignant disease. We show that primary CD8+T cells isolated from peripheral blood can be genetically modified by retroviral transduction to express high levels of universal (major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted) chimeric T-celi receptors specific for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens. Two classes of HIV-specific URs in which the antigen-binding domain is comprised of either CD4 or a single-chain antibody are capable of activating a number of T-cell effector functions in response to target cells, including cytolysis, in a highly sensitive and specific manner. Importantly, we have addressed a number of issues which, although particularly relevant to the clinical application of this approach in the treatment of HIV infection, may also impact on the potential of UR immunotherapy for other disease targets. The UR immunotherapeutic system is particularly suited for evaluation in the clinical setting.