title: The efficiency of the human CD8+ T cell response: how should we quantify it, what determines it, and does it matter?
abstract: Multidisciplinary techniques, in particular the combination of theoretical and experimental immunology, can address questions about human immunity that cannot be answered by other means. From the turnover of virus-infected cells in vivo, to rates of thymic production and HLA class I epitope prediction, theoretical techniques provide a unique insight to supplement experimental approaches. Here we present our opinion, with examples, of some of the ways in which mathematics has contributed in our field of interest: the efficiency of the human CD8+ T cell response to persistent viruses.
authors.affiliation: Section of Immunology, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marjet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elemans
authors.forename: Nafisa-Katrin
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Seich Al Basatena
authors.forename: Becca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Asquith
mesh_terms: D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008024:Ligands; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell