Differences between CD8 T-cell memory after prime-boost or single immunizations

CD8 T cells are important in the elimination of intracellular pathogens, including viruses and certain types of bacteria. Induction of CD8 T cell memory by vaccination enhances the clearance of specific pathogens and limits associated morbidity and mortality. Insufficient levels of memory conferred by a single immunization can be increased by a secondary or booster immunization. The extent to which memory CD8 T cells generated after boosted immunizations functionally differ from memory CD8 T cells generated after primary immunizations is currently unknown. This information is critical in the establishment of vaccination regimens that induce robust and effective CD8 T cell memory against intracellular pathogens.

Our long-term goal is to determine the relationship between vaccination strategies, the induction of CD8 T cell memory, and immunity to pathogens. At the current time, our goal is to determine whether secondary memory CD8 T cells are qualitatively different than primary memory CD8 T cells.

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