title: Enumeration and characterization of human memory T cells by enzyme-linked immunospot assays.
abstract: The enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay has advanced into a useful and widely applicable tool for the evaluation of T-cell responses in both humans and animal models of diseases and/or vaccine candidates. Using synthetic peptides (either individually or as overlapping peptide mixtures) or whole antigens, total lymphocyte or isolated T-cell subset responses can be assessed either after short-term stimulation (standard ELISPOT) or after their expansion during a 10-day culture (cultured ELISPOT). Both assays detect different antigen-specific immune responses allowing the analysis of effector memory T cells and central memory T cells. This paper describes the principle of ELISPOT assays and discusses their application in the evaluation of immune correlates of clinical interest with a focus on the vaccine field.
authors: S. S. Virologia Molecolare, S. C. Microbiologia e Virologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Via Taramelli 5, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors: Sandra A
authors: SA
authors: Calarota
authors: Fausto
authors: F
authors: Baldanti
mesh_terms: D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism