title: Protective antigen-independent CD8 T cell memory is maintained during {gamma}-herpesvirus persistence.
abstract: Ag persistence during high-titer chronic viral infections induces CD8 T cell dysfunction and lack of Ag-independent CD8 T cell memory formation. However, we have a poor understanding of the generation and maintenance of CD8 T cell memory during asymptomatic persistent viral infections, particularly gamma-herpesvirus infections. In this study, we demonstrate that the continuous presence of cognate Ag in the host is not required for the maintenance of CD8 T cell memory during a persistent gamma-herpesvirus infection. Importantly, the Ag-independent CD8 T cell memory that is maintained during gamma-herpesvirus persistence has the capacity to survive long-term under homeostatic conditions and to mount a protective recall response to a secondary encounter with the pathogen. These data highlight the ability of the immune system to maintain a population of protective memory CD8 T cells with capacity for long-term Ag-independent survival in the presence of systemic virus persistence.
authors.affiliation: Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cush
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flaño
mesh_terms: D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D018144:Rhadinovirus