title: Advances in the analysis of hepatitis C virus specific T cell responses.
abstract: There is a growing consensus that cellular immune responses are associated with the clinical outcome of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). The development of Tetramer staining, ELISpot, flow cytometry and epitope mapping technologies make it possible to enumerate, phenotype and assess the proliferation and function of HCV specific T cells; as well as map and predict T cell epitopes and track the evolution of T cell epitopes. Such information is essential for the development of effective therapeutic and prophylactic HCV vaccines. This article summarizes the technical advances relevant to HCV specific T cell responses.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30302, USA.
authors.forename: Xinjian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.forename: Markus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Germann
mesh_terms: D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006681:HLA-D Antigens