The frequency and function of nucleoprotein-specific CD8⁺ T cells are critical for heterosubtypic immunity against influenza virus infection.

ABSTRACT: Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) mediate host defense against viral and intracellular bacterial infections and tumors. However, the magnitude of CTL response and their function needed to confer heterosubtypic immunity against influenza virus infection are unknown. We addressed the role of CD8⁺ T cells in the absence of any cross-reactive antibody responses to influenza viral proteins using an adenoviral vector expressing a 9mer amino acid sequence recognized by CD8⁺ T cells. Our results indicate that both CD8⁺ T cell frequency and function are crucial for heterosubtypic immunity. Low morbidity, lower viral lung titers, low to minimal lung pathology, and better survival upon heterosubtypic virus challenge correlated with the increased frequency of NP-specific

SUBMITTER: Amoah S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11334528 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature