Helpless Not Hopeless: Applying Cell Sorting And High-Dimensional Flow Cytometry For Long-Term Characterization Of Murine Pathogen-Specific CD8+ T Cells

The generation of durable CD8+ T cell memory following infection or vaccination is essential for protection against future encounters with the same or related pathogens. This process has traditionally been viewed as dependent on CD4+ T cell help. However, in many acutely resolving infections, memory CD8+ T cells can form even in the absence of CD4+ T cell support. Despite their formation, these so-called “helpless” memory CD8+ T cells often exhibit reduced protective capacity upon secondary immune challenge. These apparent contradictions raise fundamental questions about how “helpless” memory CD8+ T cells arise, how stable they are over time, and what constrains their functional potential.

In this webinar, we will present recent work examining the development and long-term fate of “helpless” memory CD8+ T cells across multiple murine infection models. We will show that early CD8+ T cell responses can initially appear intact without CD4+ T cell help, yet prolonged exposure to residual antigen transiently compromises the quality and function of the memory CD8+ T cell pool. Finally, we will demonstrate how these defects resolve over time, uncovering unexpected plasticity within the memory CD8+ T cell compartment and offering important insights for vaccine design and immune-based interventions.

Key topics discussed in this webinar will include:

• The role of CD4+ T cells in shaping the quality and durability of CD8+ T cell memory
• The impact of ongoing antigen exposure on the functional capacity of memory CD8+ T cells
• The use of cell sorting, adoptive cell transfer, and spectral flow cytometry to analyze CD8+ T cell memory formation during acutely resolving infections

 
Who should attend:

• Researchers studying T cell biology, immune memory, infection, or vaccination who want deeper insight into CD8+ T cell memory formation and function
• Scientists who are using or exploring advanced techniques such as cell sorting, adoptive cell transfer, and spectral flow cytometry to study immune responses
• Anyone interested in applications using spectral flow cytometry

 
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.