Memory CD8(+) T cells elicited by HIV-1 lipopeptide vaccines display similar phenotypic profiles but differences in term of magnitude and multifunctionality compared with FLU- or EBV-specific memory T cells in humans.

•Specific-CD8+ T cells are crucial in HIV vaccines designed to generate cell immunity.•We fully characterized HIV-specific memory CD8+ T cell responses induced in HIV-vaccinated volunteers.•We compared T cells induced by HIV vaccines with responses to FLU or EBV.•We showed that HIV-specific memory CD8+ T cells have a similar maturation profile to FLU- or EBV-specific memory T cells.•But the HIV vaccine potency to induce multifunctional T cells needs to be increased.