title: Priming of CD8(+) T Cell Responses to Liver Stage Malaria Parasite Antigens.
abstract: While the role of malaria parasite-specific memory CD8(+) T cells in the control of exo-erythrocytic stages of malaria infection is well documented and generally accepted, a debate is still ongoing regarding both the identity of the anatomic site where the activation of naive pathogen-specific T cells is taking place and contribution of different antigen-presenting cells (APCs) into this process. Whereas some studies infer a role of professional APCs present in the lymph nodes draining the site of parasite injection by the mosquito, others argue in favor of the liver as a primary organ and hepatocytes as stimulators of naïve parasite-specific T cell responses. This review aims to critically analyze the current knowledge and outline new lines of research necessary to understand the induction of protective cellular immunity against the malaria parasite.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, University of Lausanne , Epalinges , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giampietro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corradin
authors.affiliation: W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, MD , USA.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levitskaya
keywords: Plasmodium; antigen presentation to T cells; dendritic and liver cells as APC; liver stage antigens; malaria