How Do T Cells Respond to Viral Infection and Vaccination

Dear Colleagues,

T cell immunity plays a crucial role in recognizing and controlling intracellular viruses and is an essential arm of immune protection against viral infections. After viral infections or vaccinations, T cell responses develop early and correlate with protection by limiting disease severity and enhancing vaccine efficacy. Generally, the primary T cell responses include antigen processing and binding to MHC molecules, antigen presentation by Dendritic cells and macrophages (antigen-presenting cells) to cytotoxic T cells, T cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, cytokine production, and production of effective molecules to perform their roles in immune responses. On the other hand, CD4+ helper T cells support B cell responses in the germinal center, and also have direct antiviral properties. Moreover, T cell memory is established after viral infection and vaccination, and it contributes to the long-term protection of viral infection. A variety of immune cell types and molecules are involved in the T cell immunity, while for distinct viruses and vaccinations, the T immune responses vary, resulting in different protection outcomes. Most studies of viral infections and vaccinations, especially for SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccinations, focused on B cell responses (antibody responses). Given the equal importance of T cell immunity in viral infections and vaccinations, we believe the following aspects of T cell immunity should be extensively investigated and would also be of broad interest to the readers of Vaccines. 

1. T cell immunity characterization after viral infection using human cohorts.
2. T cell-based vaccines and their efficacy in appropriate animal models;
3. The precise mechanisms by which T cell responses contribute to protection after viral infections and vaccinations. For example, the memory T cells‘ response, the roles of resident memory T cells, viral escape from T cell immunity, etc.
4. T cell epitope characterization and test the potential for vaccine development;
5. Identify the novel T cell subsets or the novel functions of the existing T cell subsets during viral infections.
6. TCR profiling after viral infections or vaccinations using high-throughput T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing technology;
7. The novel techniques to characterize the T cell immune responses.
8. Any other studies related to T cell responses to viral infections and vaccinations. 

Dr. Guohua Yi
Guest Editor

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• T cells
• viral infection
• vaccination
• vaccine development
• immunity
• T cell based-vaccine
• vaccine efficacy
• antigen presentation
• T cell epitope
• T cell receptor
• TCR sequencing
• T cell subsets
• memory T cells