Aisha Souquette
Paul G. Thomas- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
Influenza virus frequently mutates due to its error-prone polymerase. This feature contributes to influenza virus’s ability to evade pre-existing immunity, leading to annual epidemics and periodic pandemics. T cell memory plays a key protective role in the face of an antigenically distinct influenza virus strain because T cell targets are often derived from conserved internal proteins, whereas humoral immunity targets are often sites of increased mutation rates that are tolerated by the virus. Most studies of influenza T cell memory are conducted in naive, specific pathogen free mice and do not account for repetitive influenza infection throughout a lifetime, sequential acute heterologous infections between influenza infections, or heterologous chronic co-infections. By contrast to these mouse models, humans often experience numerous influenza infections, encounter heterologous acute infections between influenza infections, and are infected with at least one chronic virus. In this review, we discuss recent advances in understanding the effects of heterologous infections on the establishment and maintenance of CD8+ T cell immunological memory. Understanding the various factors that affect immune memory can provide insights into the development of more effective vaccines and increase reproducibility of translational studies between animal models and clinical results.
Introduction
Influenza Virus
In the United States, seasonal epidemics caused by influenza virus lead to 3.1 million hospitalized days, 31.4 million outpatient visits, and direct medical costs of $10.4 billion, on average (1). While vaccination against influenza virus has decreased morbidity and mortality, influenza virus is particularly efficient at evading the immune system, and more research is needed to improve vaccine efficacy. A key aspect of influenza virus biology, which confers higher pathogenicity and contributes to immune evasion, is its high rate of mutation due to the error-prone activity of its RNA polymerase, which lacks proofreading function. Accrual of point mutations over time, known as antigenic drift, can lead to antigenically distinct proteins that cannot be recognized by established protective immunity. Evasion of immune memory can also occur when more than one parental virus strain infects the same host and reassortment of various genome segments leads to viral progeny of a new subtype, a process known as antigenic shift. Indeed, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was the result of reassortment between an Eurasian swine H1N1 and a triple reassortant swine H1N2, which contained gene segments from an avian virus, North American classical swine H1N1, and human seasonal H3N2 (2).
Influenza virus is a member of the Orthomyxovirus family. There are three classes: A, B, and C; which vary in their host, pathogenicity, and structure. The genome consists of 7–8 segments of negative-sense single stranded RNA, encapsulated in nucleoprotein (NP). At the end of each segment is a heterotrimer of three polymerase proteins: polymerase basic protein 1, polymerase basic protein 2, and polymerase acidic protein (PA). The genome is enclosed in a capsid, which is encapsulated in a host derived lipid bilayer envelope. Imbedded into the lipid envelope is the matrix 2 protein, and two spike proteins that are important for binding, fusion/entry, and egress from target cells—hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Influenza viruses are often subdivided and referred to by their HA and NA subtypes. Of the 18 HA and 11 NA subtypes currently known, only H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2 have caused a human pandemic. Currently circulating human influenza viruses include: influenza A virus H1N1, influenza A virus H3N2, and influenza B virus.
Control of influenza virus is ultimately achieved by the virus-specific adaptive immune response. CD4+ T cells aid in the activation of both B and CD8+ T cells, important for production of antibodies and clearance of virus infected cells, respectively. Antibodies produced by B cells serve non-neutralizing and neutralizing functions. HA and NA are major targets of neutralizing antibodies; however, these proteins are often sites of mutations, which may lead to antigenic drift over time. Conversely, CD8 T cells, also known as cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), target conserved regions of internal proteins, which are less prone to mutation due to fitness cost and/or potential for loss of function. By contrast to innate immunity, adaptive immunity is pathogen-specific and results in immunological memory. In cases of antigenically distinct subtypes, which are common for influenza virus, and often lead to pandemics, targeting of conserved internal proteins by memory CD8 T cells can lead to rapid and effective control of influenza virus. Indeed, numerous studies have shown the benefits of immunological memory during heterosubtypic influenza virus infection [recently reviewed in detail in Ref. (3)]. Given the importance of memory CD8 T cell responses in influenza virus infection, it is important to understand the various factors that can affect the establishment and/or maintenance of immunological memory in the CD8 T cell compartment, particularly with regard to heterologous infections, which commonly occur in humans. Here, we review the effects of heterologous acute sequential or chronic co-infection on recruitment of the CD8 T cell response and memory generation and maintenance during influenza virus infection.
CD8+ T Cell Immunity
T cells recognize peptides presented in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules located at the cell surface. The immunogenicity of a given epitope is dependent on many factors, including but not limited to: protein processing, protein affinity for MHC, frequency of epitope-specific T cells, and competition amongst other T cells for interactions with antigen presenting cells (APCs) (4). Immunogenic epitopes do not all stimulate the same magnitude of CD8 T cell response; rather, there is an immunodominance hierarchy, in which epitopes can be classified as dominant, codominant, or subdominant. Epitope immunodominance is not directly correlated with epitope abundance and appears at least partially dependent on the relative frequency of high avidity epitope-specific T cells, recruitment of CD8 T cell precursors, and the extent of precursor proliferation throughout the primary response (5, 6). In addition, an epitope’s immunodominance can change upon secondary infection. For example, during primary infection with the H3N2 lab strain X31, NP366–374/Db and PA224–233/Db epitopes elicit a CD8 T cell response similar in size; however, upon secondary infection with the H1N1 lab strain PR8, NP-specific CD8 T cells become dominant (7). The observed change in immunodominance upon secondary infection is associated with increased epitope presentation of NP (presented by multiple APCs) vs. PA [presented by dendritic cells (DCs) only], which augments activation and expansion of NP-specific memory CD8 T cells.
The CD8 T cell receptor (TCR) is composed of an alpha and beta chain. Each chain is generated by a semi-random recombination mechanism known as V(D)J recombination. In humans, the alpha locus consists of 42 variables (V) and 61 joining (J) segments; the beta locus consists of 47 V, 2 diversity (D), and 13 J segments. Diversity in the TCR is a result of three factors: (1) Semi-random pairing of a single V, D, and J segment. (2) Recombining of Vα-Jα or Vβ-Dβ-Jβ results in random nucleotide insertions and deletions at junction sites. (3) Combinatorial diversity of an alpha chain and a beta chain. The TCR generation process has the potential to generate 1015–1061 unique receptors (8–10). However, the size of the peripheral TCR repertoire in humans is estimated at ~106–108, and with many sequences overlapping between individuals, despite the enormous potential repertoire diversity (11–14). This is due, at least in part, to the preferential use of particular VDJ segments and positive-negative selection of T cells in the thymus, before entry into the periphery. The pool of T cells capable of recognizing a specific epitope is referred to as the epitope-specific T cell repertoire and comprised of various unique TCRs. On average, the size of an epitope-specific repertoire consists of 50–500 naive T cells (6, 15, 16).
Three signals contribute to the priming of a CD8 T cell: (1) Recognition of cognate antigen via interaction of TCR:peptide:MHC. (2) Interaction with activating co-stimulatory molecules. (3) Cytokines in the surrounding microenvironment. If the accumulation of these signals exceeds the threshold of activation, a T cell will be recruited into the T cell response and begin to proliferate. The T cell response occurs in three general phases: activation and expansion, contraction, and memory. Following activation, T cells undergo extensive division, replicating every 6–8 h and expanding up to 104–105 fold (17). Differentiation of CD8 T cells involves acquisition of effector functions, such as production of anti-viral IFN-γ, pro-survival IL-2, and cytolytic enzymes. Generally, the contraction phase begins following control of pathogen growth, during which 90–95% of activated T cells die via apoptosis by 2–3 weeks post peak expansion (17). The remaining CD8 T cells will further differentiate into various memory populations. There are three broad types of memory CD8 T cells commonly recognized: central memory T cells, TCM (CD44hi CD62L+ CCR7+ CD127+ CD69− CD103−), circulate through secondary lymphoid tissues via the blood and lymph. Effector memory T cells, TEM (CD44hi CD62L− CCR7− CD127+ CD69− CD103−), migrate throughout the periphery. Resident memory T cells, TRM (CD44hi CD62L− CCR7− CD11a+ CD69+ CD103+), remain in tissues and do not recirculate via the bloodstream. Memory CD8 T cells undergo epigenetic modifications that lead to a transcriptionally poised state, conferring rapid recall of effector function upon reencounter of a pathogen (18).
Given the high rate of mutations in influenza virus and potential for evasion of population immunity, it is imperative to understand how to optimize memory CD8 T cell responses, especially in the face of a new influenza subtype, during which CTL responses against conserved epitopes could play a key role in controlling infection. Most studies to date are conducted in specific pathogen free mice, in controlled environments, and do not take into account repetitive influenza infection throughout a lifetime, sequential acute heterologous infection between influenza infections, or co-infection with chronic heterologous infections. This is particularly important because humans may encounter numerous heterologous acute infections between influenza infections and the average adult is estimated to harbor ~8–12 chronic infections (19). Indeed, recent work has shown that mice infected with sequential heterologous infections, both acute and chronic, have immune responses to vaccination that are more human-like as compared with naive, specific pathogen free mice (20). Furthermore, in a study of influenza vaccine responses in humans, young CMV+ subjects had higher antibody titers and a generally activated immune system compared with young CMV-subjects (21). These data suggest infection history plays a role in shaping our response to immune challenge and may, at least in part, provide insight into the discrepancy between vaccination efficacies in the laboratory vs. in the clinic.
There are two general categories of heterologous infections—acute and chronic. It is important to note that in addition to acute infections, there are three distinct types of chronic infection that are often referred to interchangeably, but actually represent different scenarios for the immune system and conclusions from one category cannot be generally applied to another (Table 1). For this review, we will use the following definitions: (1) Acute, such as influenza virus infection, wherein T cells are transiently exposed to viral antigen and the virus is eventually cleared from the host (22–24). (2) Latent chronic, such as Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), where there are periodic phases of latency (no viral replication) and reactivation (production of infectious virus), during which T cells rest is exposed to antigen, respectively (25–27). (3) Smoldering chronic, such as Cytomegalovirus, wherein there is ongoing subclinical, low-level viral replication and T cells are continually exposed to antigen, with little rest (27–29). (4) Persistent chronic, such as Hepatitis C virus, where there is a continuous high-level of viral replication (viremia) and thus constant T cell stimulation with no periods of rest (30–34). In this review, when appropriate, sections will be divided into “Acute, Sequential” and “Chronic Co-infection.”
Table 1. Types of heterologous infections [modified from Ref. (17)].
Early Kinetics and Bystander Activation
Most studies are conducted in naive, specific pathogen free mice; however, humans encounter daily immune challenges that may impact pre-existing immunological memory and control of subsequent infections (homologous or heterologous). Indeed, prior infection with influenza virus protects mice from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) induced eosinophilia and weight loss (35). Protection can be conferred via transfer of splenocytes from influenza virus-exposed animals, and is thought to be mediated by non-specific bystander activation, cross-reactive T cells, immunological imprinting (and skewing toward Th1 response), and/or structural remodeling after the first infection (35). This study highlights the impact infection history may have on the control and disease severity of a sequential heterologous infection.
Memory CD8 T cells are transcriptionally poised for rapid recall of effector function upon reencounter of a pathogen, and are capable of responding to 1/50th of the peptide concentration necessary for naive T cell stimulation (18, 36). Cytokine stimulation alone is even sufficient to induce memory CD8 T cell activation and cytokine production. Activation of T cells in the presence of an inflammatory microenvironment, but in the absence of cognate antigen, is termed bystander activation. Studies have shown bystander T cell proliferation can be induced by viruses, type I IFN, cytokines, and polyI:C (37, 38). Cytokines, including but not limited to, IFNα/β, IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-15, IL-7, and IL-18 have been shown to have unique and synergistic effects on bystander activation of T cells (39, 40). Furthermore, the extent of bystander activation depends on the infection dose and subsequent level of inflammation (41). Recent work in a primary influenza infection model shows early expansion of highly activated non-specific (bystander) memory CD8 T cells, which are CD25 negative, a component of the IL-2 receptor and a molecule that is up-regulated upon TCR stimulation, but are NKG2D positive, an activating receptor expressed on NK- and T-cells, and are restricted to the site of infection (42). Importantly, blockade of NKG2D resulted in increased influenza viral titers, suggesting a role for NKG2D in viral control (42). Similar results have been observed in a mouse model of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection, where bystander-activated memory CD8 T cells mediated early clearance of infection, in a NKG2D-dependent manner (43). Additional studies have shown NKG2D can act as a co-stimulatory molecule for CD8 T cells, augment cytotoxicity, and is sufficient to rescue unhelped memory CD8 T cells (44, 45). These results suggest a role for bystander-activated memory CD8 T cells in initial pathogen control.
Acute, Sequential
An acute, sequential heterologous infection model of primary Sendai virus and secondary influenza virus infection, and the reverse sequence of infection, show early recruitment of non-specific memory CD8 T cells into the lung (46). Specifically, there is a 4–5 fold increase in Sendai virus specific CD8 T cells at day 4 after secondary influenza infection and a fourfold increase in influenza-specific CD8 T cells at day 4 after secondary Sendai virus infection. Similar results were observed in other respiratory infection models—there is 4.4 and 1.7 fold increase in murine herpesvirus 68 (MHV68)—and Vaccinia virus (VV)-specific CD8 T cells, respectively, at day 3 after secondary Sendai virus infection (46). Furthermore, in the primary Sendai and secondary influenza virus infection model, bystander Sendai-specific CD8 T cells exhibit a transiently altered phenotype at day 3–4 (coinciding with the peak of their presence in the lung), are recruited via circulating memory CD8 T cells, and recruitment is independent of proliferation, although a portion of non-specific cells do proliferate (46).
Chronic Co-Infection
Epstein–Barr virus is a member of the gamma-herpesvirus family, and its seroprevalence in humans approaches 80–90% in adults (19). Studies using MHV68, a natural mouse pathogen that is closely related to human gamma herpesviruses, suggest latent MHV68 co-infection confers protection during challenge with influenza virus (47). Co-infected mice show enhanced survival, enhanced viral clearance at early time points, decreased lung injury, increased recruitment of activated CD4 and CD8 T cells at early and later time points, enhanced activation of alveolar macrophages, and augmented levels of anti-viral IFN-γ in response to influenza virus infection (47). Similar results were observed in a co-infection model of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and influenza virus, wherein decreased influenza virus titers and increased numbers of influenza-specific CD8 T cells were observed in early (5 weeks) and established (12 weeks), but not long-standing (9 months), MCMV latently infected mice (21). Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a beta-herpesvirus family member, is also a significant human pathogen that infects approximately 50% of adults, with seroprevalence increasing up to 90% with age (48, 49). HCMV and EBV infections are largely subclinical and well tolerated; however, they are associated with significant increases in memory CD8 T cells over time, termed memory inflation. A study sought to determine whether unrelated virus specific memory CD8 T cells were activated in the immune response to acute, heterologous infections in humans (50). In peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients at the onset of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, antigen-specific CD8 T cells within the total activated (CD38+ HLA-DR+) CD8 T cell compartment ranged (when detectable) from: 43 to 89% for HBV, 5.5 to 20% for HCMV, 22 to 41% for EBV, but only 0 to 2% for IAV (influenza A virus), as determined by pentamer binding. In addition, 54, 4.9, 8, and 0% of HBV-, HCMV-, EBV-, and IAV-specific CD8 T cells were proliferating, respectively. These results suggest that CD8 T cells specific for chronic pathogens may be preferentially activated during acute, heterologous infections. Moreover, acute infection with dengue, adenovirus, and influenza virus also induced activation of HCMV- and/or EBV-specific CD8 T cells (50). In one influenza case, approximately 25% of the onset activated CD8 T cells were HCMV-specific, but influenza-specific CD8 T cells could not be detected until day 5 (50). The study also found IL-15, a cytokine important for maintenance of memory T cells and often produced during acute viral infection, selectively activates HCMV- and EBV-specific, but not influenza-specific, CD8 T cells, is sufficient for spontaneous IFN-γ production, and enhances anti-viral cytokine production in conjunction with TCR stimulation (50).
These studies demonstrate that early recruitment of non-specific CD8 T cells is a common feature of respiratory infections, including influenza virus infection; however, analysis of viral load and illness outcome measures were not always included, and additional studies are needed to determine the extent to which bystander-activated CD8 T cells can contribute to the early immune response and control of a pathogen and/or the risk of immunopathology due to excessive T cell responses. It is likely that these effects are specific to the infection model studied.
Cross-Reactivity and the T Cell Repertoire
It is estimated that a single TCR can recognize up to 106–107 foreign nonamer peptides and ≥108 11-mers (51). Degeneracy of the TCR repertoire facilitates heterologous immunity via cross-reactive T cells primed during primary infection and activated during a secondary, unrelated infection. This may be advantageous in defense against influenza infection where T cells primed from a previously circulating influenza virus strain may respond to a novel, antigenically distinct strain.
Acute, Sequential
With respect to influenza virus infection, there are two types of acute, sequential heterologous infection scenarios. First, heterosubtypic influenza immunity refers to the effect of pre-existing immunity to influenza virus strain 1 on the immune response to a secondary infection with influenza virus strain 2. Studies in mice show priming with H9N2 or H1N1 confers protection against challenge with H7N9; however, CD8 T cell immunodominance hierarchies, weight loss, and viral clearance varied by the priming influenza virus strain (52). Although the diversity of the CD8 TCR repertoire and presence of cross-reactive CD8 T cells was not specifically tested, this study highlights the significance infection history may have on cell mediated immunity and illness outcome.
The second scenario is the effect of pre-existing immunity against an acute, non-influenza virus infection on the quality or magnitude of the immune response to influenza virus infection, and vice versa (discussed more in the Section “Maintenance of Memory and Attrition”). The effects of heterologous infections on influenza immunity (either establishment or maintenance of memory) have not been sufficiently studied; however, studies with acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), VV, and Pichinde virus (PV) infections in the mouse model show that heterologous infection can induce activation of putatively cross-reactive CD8 T cells and alter LCMV-specific T cell immunodominance (53). However, the sequence of infection is important and heterologous protective immunity is not necessarily reciprocal, i.e., LCMV confers protection against VV, but VV does not protect against LCMV (53). Additional work in the acute LCMV–PV model shows PV-immune mice infected with LCMV exhibit an altered immunodominance hierarchy, such that the immunodominant epitope is NP205, a normally subdominant epitope with high sequence similarity between the two viruses (six out of eight amino acids) (54). Alterations in immunodominance and the CD8 TCR repertoire may change the pool of memory CD8 T cells, and thus could impact secondary immune responses. Given that humans may encounter various infections between influenza infections, it is imperative to understand how heterologous infections may alter influenza-specific immunity and subsequently illness outcome.
Chronic Co-Infection
Altered activation of APCs (signal 2) and cytokine levels (signal 3) as a result of chronic co-infection may decrease the threshold of activation for inclusion into the T cell response, allowing for recruitment of lower avidity and/or cross-reactive T cells that may otherwise not be included in the response (Figure 1). Indeed, studies in humans show the naive T cell pool in chronic hepatitis C virus (cHCV)-infected subjects has more biased Vβ segment usage and decreased expression of CD5, a known T cell co-inhibitory receptor (55). Upon low dose anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation, compared with healthy donors, naive T cells from cHCV patients showed increased ERK phosphorylation, higher frequency of CD25 and CD69 expression, and activation induced cell death (55). In addition, work by Che et al. shows acute LCMV immune mice infected with MCMV exhibit increased MCMV viral titers and enhanced immunopathology. Conversely, prior MCMV infection conferred protection against acute LCMV infection via augmented CD8 T cell responses against a normally subdominant LCMV epitope, L2062–2069, mediated via cross-reactivity with a MCMV epitope, M57727–734 (56). Furthermore, studies show chronic infection with LCMV (IFN inducing), Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii, IL-12 inducing), or Heligmosomoides polygyrus (H. polygyrus, Th2 inducing) lead to impaired development of immune memory and protective immunity (57). This study also found that there is a distinct transcriptional profile between HCMV-specific (A02*01 pp65495, NLVPMVATV and B07*02 pp65417, TPRVTGGGAM) memory CD8 T cells from healthy vs. persistent HCV infected humans (57). Gene set enrichment analysis shows the gene expression profile of HCMV-specific memory CD8 T cells in healthy donors and also found enriched in memory OT-I cells from naive mice, but not in chronic LCMV-infected mice (57). Collectively, these data demonstrate that chronic infections may: (1) Alter the basal status of naive CD8 T cells, such that they are hyperactivated upon stimulation. (2) Enhance CD8 T cell responses via inclusion of cross-reactive clones. (3) Alter the transcriptional profile of memory CD8 T cells. These results underscore the importance of studies which explore the extent to which this impacts influenza cell mediated immunity, whether the results are collectively beneficial or detrimental to the host, and to what degree the results depend on the infection model and/or sequence of infection.
Figure 1. Altered threshold of CD8 T cell activation during latent and/or smoldering chronic co-infection or from memory bystander activation. (A) Three signals contribute to the activation and recruitment of naive CD8 T cells into a specific anti-pathogen response: (1) the T cell receptor (TCR), (2) co-stimulation, and (3) cytokines in the microenvironment. If the sum of these signals exceeds the threshold of activation (Tnaive sactivation), the naive CD8 T cell will be recruited into the immune response. Chronic co-infection is known to augment (ΔS) basal cytokine levels and activation status of antigen presenting cells, thereby decreasing the signal required by naive CD8 T cells to exceed the threshold of activation (Tnaive sactivation in chronic co-infected mice). In addition, memory CD8 T cells are transcriptionally poised for rapid recall of effector function upon reencounter of a pathogen, thus the amount of signal required for inclusion of a memory cell (Tmemory sactivation) is smaller than that of a naive T cell. (B) Most infectious disease studies are conducted in a naive host (far left panel), in which challenge with a pathogen will result in recruitment of pathogen-specific CD8 T cells from the naive T cell pool (blue-green T cells). In previously infected hosts, memory T cells have a lower threshold of activation and can contribute unique cross-reactive clones (yellow-orange T cells, center left panel). In addition, chronic co-infected hosts have altered signals 2 and 3 that permit the recruitment of lower avidity clones (purple T cells, center right panel). Addition of memory bystander and lower avidity clones increases the diversity of the anti-pathogen CD8 TCR repertoire. Most humans have at least one chronic infection and encounter multiple infections throughout a lifetime, thus a combination of all three scenarios (far right panel) more accurately depicts what occurs in life, and represents the most diverse population of pathogen-specific CD8 T cells.
A study of HCV-specific T cell responses confirmed cross-reactivity between epitopes from two unrelated viruses can occur in humans. Specifically, approximately 60% of HCV negative, healthy controls have functionally cytotoxic memory (CD45RO+) CD8 T cells specific for an immunodominant HCV epitope, A02*01 NS31073 (CVNGVCWTV) (58). The NS31073 epitope shares seven of the nine amino acids with the influenza virus A02*01 NA231 epitope (CVNGSCFTV), with conserved residues at positions key in binding to HLA A02*01. Indeed, HCV negative controls with NS3-specific CD8 T cells showed functional responses to NA231 and A02*01 M158 (a known immunodominant influenza epitope), suggesting prior influenza virus exposure (58). Furthermore, NS3-specific T cells could be induced by influenza infection in A02*01 transduced mice (58). Although the effects on control of influenza infection are not clear, it is possible that HCV infection will lead to a more narrow anti-influenza T cell response, due to expansion of HCV-specific CD8 T cells (both non cross-reactive and cross-reactive) in an attempt to limit HCV replication, and will ultimately result in poor influenza illness outcome.
Cross-reactive T cells against an influenza and heterologous virus epitope were also observed in EBV-associated infectious mononucleosis (IM) patients, where two out of eight patients had tetramer-defined cross-reactive CD8 T cells specific for EBV A02*01 BMLF280–288 (GLCTLVAML) and IAV A02*01 M158–66 (GILGFVFTL), despite only 33% sequence homology (59). This result is further supported by sequencing of the CDR3β regions of Vβ17+ cells (from M1-specific cell lines), which shows that diversity of Jβ segment usage in the influenza M1-specific Vβ17+ TCR repertoire changed throughout IM disease progression (59). Furthermore, follow up studies show while cross-reactive and non cross-reactive BMLF-specific T cells utilize the Vβ14 segment, sequencing of the CDR3β loop of the cross-reactive clones showed 64% of them were not previously observed in the non cross-reactive repertoires (60). Analysis of TCR-α chain segment usage shows cross-reactive and non cross-reactive repertoires utilize Vα15, but cross-reactive repertoires utilize unique Jα families (60). In addition, BMLF-M1 cross-reactive T cells utilize a greater number of Vβ segments, as compared with non cross-reactive M1 or BMLF-specific T cells (60). These results have two important implications: (1) Cross-reactive T cells can increase TCR repertoire diversity through inclusion of unique TCRs that would not be seen in single epitope-specific repertoires. (2) Compared with analysis of segment usage alone, analysis of CDR regions provides more insight to the number of unique clones and diversity of the TCR repertoire. It is important to note that segments of interest when comparing usage between cross-reactive and non cross-reactive repertoires were dependent on the individual, with some segments common across individuals (possibly reflective of “public” clones), while others were unique to individuals (possibly reflective of “private” clones) (60). This study also utilized computer simulations of cross-reactive responses and the results suggest that cross-reactive responses between structurally similar epitopes, termed “near cross-reactive” responses, will lead to a more narrow TCR repertoire, whereas cross-reactive responses between structurally divergent epitopes, termed “far cross-reactive” responses, would lead to a broad TCR repertoire (60).
Reciprocal Effects of Influenza Infection
Numerous studies have shown that heterologous infections can impact influenza immunity and/or illness outcome, but the effect of influenza infection on the control of heterologous infection has not been sufficiently studied, and the extent to which these scenarios are dependent on cell mediated immunity is not clear. We previously mentioned prior infection with influenza virus protects mice from RSV induced eosinophilia and weight loss, and is thought to be mediated by non-specific bystander activation, cross-reactive T cells, immunological imprinting (and skewing toward Th1 response), and/or structural remodeling after the influenza infection (35). However, the aforementioned IM study observed BMLF-M1 cross-reactive T cells were enriched in severe IM cases, suggesting the magnitude of the anti-EBV CD8 T cell response is associated with disease severity (59). Indeed, later work in a study of acute infectious mononucleosis (AIM) shows IAV-M1 (R2 = 0.4), EBV-BMLF (R2 = 0.3), and cross-reactive IAV-M1 + EBV-BMLF (R2 = 0.6) CD8 T cells are the only tetramer positive populations which directly correlate with AIM disease severity and are predictive of severe AIM in a relative-risk analysis (61). Other tetramer positive populations analyzed include CMV-pp65, EBV-BLRF1, cross-reactive IAV-M1 + EBV-BLRF1, and cross-reactive EBV-BLRF1 + EBV-BMLF. These results suggest influenza infection history and the frequency of influenza-EBV cross-reactive CD8 T cells in the influenza memory T cell pool may alter anti-EBV cell mediated immune responses during acute infection and subsequent illness outcome (61).
Taken together, these data demonstrate heterosubtypic influenza infections, acute sequential heterologous infections and chronic co-infections can alter anti-influenza memory CD8 T cell responses, with respect to kinetics, magnitude, quality, and repertoire diversity. Alterations in signals 2–3 of T cell priming may alter the threshold of activation and subsequently the pool of CD8 T cells included in the anti-influenza response. If this leads to a more diverse TCR repertoire, it could be beneficial in the face of a novel influenza virus strain; conversely, if it results in a narrow repertoire, it may lead to variant escape. Further studies are needed to assess the consequences of common heterologous infections on influenza virus immune memory; does cross-reactivity narrow or diversify the TCR repertoire, and to what extent are the effects context/infection dependent? In addition, what are the reciprocal effects of influenza infection on control of heterologous infections?
Maintenance of Memory and Attrition
It is well established that the ability to mount an effective immune response declines with age, and annual surveillance of influenza infections show the elderly (>65 years old) are at risk for severe disease from influenza infection (62, 63). Immunosenescence is associated with poor immune responses and is a collective term used to describe various changes in the immune system that occur over time, such as thymic involution, dysregulated innate immune responses, inverted CD4/CD8 T cell ratios, decreased naive T cells coupled with increased memory T cells, and decreased diversity in the TCR repertoire (64–67). Alterations in naive/memory T cell frequencies, often observed in the elderly, are partially due to exposure to numerous pathogens throughout a lifetime, decreased thymic output, and the large expansion of CMV-specific CD8 T cells, termed “memory inflation”(68–70).
Altered immunological memory as a result of pathogen exposure throughout a lifetime coupled with memory inflation from chronic infections including CMV raise the concern that heterologous infections could consume the limited space in the memory compartment, “crowding out” protective memory responses to influenza virus. However, recent studies show the CD8 T cell compartment can grow in size upon immunological experience (71). In this study, mice were infected with LCMV, followed by three heterologous prime-boost vaccines against vesicular stomatitis virus: New Jersey strain, recombinant VV expressing VSV nucleoprotein, and Indiana strain. The memory CD8 T cell population specific for the N protein of VSV induced by this vaccination strategy was equivalent in size to the entire memory CD8 T cell population in control mice (71). Furthermore, the total number of CD8 T cells increased following sequential vaccination, highlighting the importance of analyzing and reporting both cell number and frequency, as a decreased frequency may be the result of increased cell numbers of other CD8 T cells (71). Importantly, moderate attrition occurred in non cross-reactive, P14 LCMV-specific CD8 T cells in various tissues, ranging from 25.6 up to 33.4%. However, no attrition was observed in LCMV-specific CD8 T cells when mice were sequentially infected with VV, LM (intracellular bacteria), or Plasmodium yoelii (parasite) (71). These results suggest the CD8 T cell compartment size is flexible, though this flexibility appears to depend on specific features of the infecting pathogens, such as induced innate immune profiles, that we do not currently fully understand; however, with additional investigation and careful vaccine design, the magnitude of memory CD8 T cell attrition may be reduced following repeated heterologous challenge.
Two models have been suggested for memory T cell attrition: (1) Passive competition, in which new memory T cells compete with pre-existing memory T cells for space in limited survival niches and (2) Active deletion, wherein some mechanism, such as early type I IFN, induces apoptosis of pre-existing memory T cells, to make room for newly arising memory T cells (72). Attrition of T cells during the early phase of an acute immune response is mediated, at least in part, through type I IFN (IFN-α/β), followed by activation of initiator caspase 8 and effector caspase 3, ultimately leading to apoptosis (73, 74). Additional studies in mice show loss of T cells during early infection is age dependent, such that aged mice are less susceptible to T cell attrition mediated by type I IFN due to decreased expression of caspase 3, as compared with young mice (75). This is significant because thymic output decreases as age increases; a lower apoptotic potential of memory T cells in an aged host would minimize loss of this population when limited naive cells are available to replace them.
LCMV, PV, VV, and MCMV studies in mice demonstrate heterologous infections have prospective and/or retrospective effects on immune responses and memory: prospectively, prior infection with Virus A can lead to beneficial or detrimental effects during sequential infection with Virus B, and reciprocal (Virus B → Virus A) effects are not necessarily equal (53, 76). Retrospectively, infection with Virus B in a Virus A-immune host leads to the loss of bystander-activated T cells, including Virus A-specific memory T cells (74, 76–78). Studies of influenza and MHV68 show reciprocal effects in a challenge and vaccination model (79). Compared with an influenza only control group, mice infected with influenza virus (PR8 then X31) followed by MHV68 exhibit decreased frequencies and numbers of influenza (NP) specific memory CD8 T cells in the spleen, peripheral blood, lung, and bone marrow; however, no difference was observed in the mediastinal lymph node (MLN), cervical lymph node (CLN), or liver at day 100 (79). Compared with MHV68 only mice, mice infected with influenza followed by MHV68 showed decreased numbers of total MHV68 (p79)-specific memory T cells (sum of all anatomical locations tested); however, this is likely driven by a difference in the liver at day 100, because no difference was observed in the spleen, peripheral blood, MLN, CLN, bronchoalveolar lavage, lung, or bone marrow (79). Moreover, vaccination for MHV68 followed by influenza infection resulted in a higher number of influenza-specific CD8 T cells at day 14, but a lower number at day 200 (79). In each scenario, the reduction of antigen-specific T cells was approximately twofold or less, and likely would not result in a loss of protection following secondary challenge with influenza virus or challenge post priming for MHV68 (79). Latent MHV68 infection actually confers protection against influenza infection (described in more detail in the Section “Early Kinetics and Bystander Activation”) (47).
These studies utilized MHV68, a murine model for chronic EBV infection in humans; however, most attrition studies are conducted in acute, sequential infection models. Given the high prevalence of chronic infections in humans, it is important to consider how they may alter observations of T cell attrition, and how this may vary by the category of chronic infection (latent, smoldering, or persistent). A study of PV, LCMV strain Armstrong (acute), and LCMV clone 13 (persistent chronic) sought to examine these differences and found more profound attrition of PV-specific memory T cells in chronic (clone 13) sequential vs. acute (Armstrong) sequential infection (80). Importantly, CD44hi memory CD8 T cells and non cross-reactive T cells were more susceptible to attrition (80). One possible explanation for the differences observed between acute and chronic LCMV, and important factors to consider when comparing chronic infection models, is the duration of antigen burden and the magnitude of subsequently induced pro-inflammatory cytokines. Studies in mouse models show out-of-sequence signal 3, such as the strong cytokine stimulatory conditions induced by sepsis and systemic immunotherapy, can lead to transient immunosuppression of T cells which is mediated, at least in part, through increased expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling, likely as a means to prevent extensive immunopathology from hyperactivation or autoimmunity (81, 82). For influenza infection, detrimental effects are likely to arise from persistent chronic co-infection, such as chronic LCMV; whereas smoldering MCMV- and latent MHV68-influenza co-infection models have shown enhanced CD8 T cell responses and improved illness outcome (21, 47).
Earlier studies have also suggested that memory T cells are maintained through cross-reactive stimulation, and recent work further supports this hypothesis (83, 84). In a mouse model of LM (wild type or recombinant expressing OVA) followed by Mycobacterium bovis (BCG, wild type or recombinant expressing OVA), mice infected with LM then BCG showed significant reduction in LM-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells; however, attrition did not occur in mice infected with LM-OVA followed by BCG-OVA (85). These data show heterologous bacterial, sequential infections also lead to T cell attrition, but attrition can be prevented when T cells cross-react across pathogens (85). Utilizing PV and LCMV acute, sequential infection models, Brehm et al. (discussed in more detail in the Section “Cross-Reactivity and the T Cell Repertoire”) has also demonstrated that cross-reactive NP205-specific T cells are preferentially maintained at a higher frequency as compared with non cross-reactive T cells, whether LCMV is given to PV-immune mice or PV is given to LCMV-immune mice (54).
These data have shown that attrition of memory T cells is a common phenomenon in a variety of viral and bacterial infection models. In addition, non cross-reactive clones are more susceptible to attrition, whereas cross-reactive clones are maintained. Thus, it is possible that analysis utilizing known immunodominant epitopes may not account for increases in frequency and number of cross-reactive T cells specific for normally subdominant responses not analyzed. To provide evidence for this possibility, more studies are needed across a broader range of specificities, such as all activated CD8 T cells rather than just tetramer-specific cells, coupled with a more detailed analysis of paired αβ TCR sequences to look for the expansion of cross-reactive clones. In-depth analysis of TCR sequences can address additional questions, such as how different is the TCR repertoire pre and post attrition? Does attrition result in fewer numbers of each clone or complete loss of specific clones? If the latter, is there a selective mechanism, such as T cell phenotype (TCM vs. TEM), perhaps with varying transcription of genes involved in the apoptotic process, or divergent vs. canonical TCRs (with respect to epitope and pathogen)? In addition, to what extent do observations depend on features of the infection model, such as a restricted site of infection vs. systemic, Th1 vs. Th2 bias, low vs. high pathogenicity, and the extent to which CD8 T cells contribute to pathogen clearance? The answers to each of these questions have important implications for control of influenza virus infection and the development of prophylactic methods. For example, if attrition preferentially results in the loss of divergent TCRs or complete loss of specific clones, this may lead to influenza virus escape variants due to decreased diversity in the influenza-specific CD8 TCR repertoire. Understanding the factors that affect memory T cell attrition can be utilized in the development of more effective influenza vaccines that minimize the loss of pre-existing memory CD8 T cell populations, such as choosing adjuvants which limit type I IFN production or skew Th1/Th2 ratios to preferential levels.
Resident Memory
Resident memory T cells (TRM) reside in nonlymphoid tissues and serve as the first line of defense upon secondary infection. Histological examination of uninflamed human lung, counting CD3 positive cells in the lung parenchyma, suggests there are approximately 1 × 1010 resident T cells (86). Human influenza-specific lung CD8+ TRM cells exhibit high proliferative capacity, are polyfunctional, and have a diverse paired TCR repertoire, likely a key attribute to prevent viral escape variants (87). Indeed, a comparison of human CD8+ TEM in the blood and lung CD8+ cells show distinct chemokine and adhesion molecule profiles, reflective of their corresponding localization (88). For example, lung cells were enriched for CXCR3, CXCR6, and CCR5, but expressed low levels of CX3CR1, a chemokine receptor that mediates migration from circulation. Without in vitro stimulation, lung cells also expressed higher mRNA, but lower protein, levels of effector molecules, such as granzyme B, IFN-γ, and TNF (88). Conversely, blood TEM had higher granzyme B levels, despite lower mRNA levels. Lung cells also expressed higher mRNA levels of chemokines and inhibitory molecules at a resting state, and expressed higher levels of IFN-γ upon stimulation with phorbol ester PMA and ionomycin (88). These results show lung TRM are transcriptionally poised to mediate rapid effector responses and recruitment of additional leukocytes, while expression of co-inhibitory molecules may represent a means to prevent excessive immune responses and subsequent immunopathology (88).
Characteristic markers to identify TRM cells in the epithelium include: (1) αE(CD103)β7 integrin, which interacts with E-cadherin in the epithelia and mediates retention in the lung and (2) C-type lectin CD69, an activation marker associated with recent antigen exposure, but also up-regulated in response to cytokines, such as type I IFN and TNF-α (89–91). It is important to note, not all TRM express these markers and a comparison of TRM at three anatomically distinct sites (lung, skin, gut) shows expression of 37 commonly up- or down-regulated genes, but 25–127 transcripts unique to TRM from a given location (92, 93). An estimate of CD103+ CD8+ αβ T cells suggests this population comprises approximately 1/3 of the total T cells in the human lung and is primarily located above the basement membrane of small airways (94). Turner et al. has shown anti-influenza CD4+ and CD8+ TRM cells localize to distinct niches in the lungs near airways and bronchovascular bundles, and were maintained independently of circulating and lymphoid T cell reservoirs (95). Analysis of human TRM cells also shows compartmentalization depending on the site of viral infection; specifically, influenza-specific CD8 T cells were enriched in lung TRM vs. the spleen, whereas similar frequencies of CMV-specific CD8 T cells were found in the lung and spleen (95). An independent study in humans also observed selective localization of antigen-specific CD8 T cells. The lungs were enriched for influenza-specific and RSV-specific CD8 T cells compared with blood, but CMV and EBV-specific CD8 T cells were equally distributed between both locations (96).
TRM utilize a variety of methods to enhance the immune response and improve illness outcome, including, but not limited to: upregulation of adhesion molecules important for leukocyte migration, maturation of DCs, activation of NK cells, and rapid upregulation of broadly active anti-pathogen genes (97–100). In addition, lung TRM have enhanced survival during influenza infection due to higher expression of anti-viral IFITM3, which confers protection against viral infection (101). Their location at the epithelial layer (which is the initial site of influenza virus infection) and rapid effector function make TRM a key population in the initial control of influenza virus replication after secondary infection. Indeed, heterosubtypic influenza challenge models and studies of vaccines which induce lung CD8+ TRM demonstrate the protective effects of this population during influenza infection; these results highlight the importance of understanding the various factors which may affect the generation and maintenance of TRM (102–107). To date, studies in influenza infection models have demonstrated the importance of four general factors in the generation and maintenance of TRM: cytokines, co-stimulation, APC differentiation, and antigen (presence and avidity). Importantly, the extent to which a factor impacts TRM may vary by anatomical location, and requires further investigation.
CD4+ T cells can enhance activation and differentiation of CD8+ T cells through cytokine production (Signal 3), and licensing of DCs, leading to enhanced expression of co-stimulatory molecules (e.g., 4-1BBL, Signal 2) which engage cognate receptors on CD8 T cells (e.g., 4-1BB). Indeed, studies of primary influenza infection in 4-1BB+/+ and 4-1BB−/− mixed bone marrow chimeras show 4-1BB−/− CD8+ T cells have an impaired ability to develop into lung TRM, indicating a role for this co-stimulatory pathway in the generation and/or maintenance of TRM (108). Furthermore, studies in a CD4 depleted mouse model of influenza virus challenge show IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells are important for the development of CD8+ TRM (109). Unhelped CD8+ T cells have decreased TRM, impaired ability to confer heterosubtypic protection, and show enhanced Tbet expression (109). Overexpression of Tbet in CD8 T cells abrogates transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) induced expression of CD103, via binding at the first intron in the Itgae (CD103) locus and blocking a putative Smad3 binding site (109). Importantly, these observations may also reflect differences in DC licensing, as CD4+ T cell depleted mice will also lack CD4 T cell:DC interactions. Indeed, previous work in a HSV mouse model has shown that unhelped DCs exhibit decreased proliferation and expression of IL-2R, IL-7R, and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 (110). Moreover, anti-HSV CD8 T cell responses in MHC II knockout and/or CD4 T cell antibody depleted mice were impaired at peak primary (day 7 post infection) and memory (90–110 days post priming) time points (110).
In addition to activation and co-stimulatory molecule expression, human and mouse models have suggested DC phenotype is an important factor in the activation and differentiation of CD8 T cells. Human blood DCs can be divided into three categories based on cell surface marker expression; CD303+ (also known as BDCA-2) expressed on plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), CD1c (also known as BDCA-1) expressed on most circulatory DCs, and CD141 expressed on a smaller subset (111). Studies of influenza vaccine responses in human tissues and humanized mice show both human CD141+ CD1c- and CD1c+ DCs are capable of activating and inducing expansion of influenza-specific memory CD8+ T cells; however, CD1c+ DCs have an enhanced capability to induce differentiation of CD103+ CD8+ T cells which express effector molecules, such as granzyme B, and are retained in the epithelium (111). Expansion of CD103+ CD8+ T cells by CD1c+ DCs was TGF-β dependent—a cytokine with a well established role in the regulation of CD103 expression on memory T cells (91, 93, 111). Mouse challenge models of influenza have also shown a differential capacity of respiratory dendritic cell (RDC) subsets to activate CD8 T cells during influenza infection and further support the human results. Specifically, CD103+ RDCs (CD103+ MHCIIhi CD11bneg-hi) and CD11bhi RDCs (CD103- MHCIIhi CD11bmed-hi) exhibit higher antigen uptake, increased expression of co-stimulatory and antigen presenting molecules (CD1d and MHC II), and decreased expression of inhibitory molecules (B7-H1) as compared with moRDCs (CD103- MHCIIneg-med CD11bhi) and pDCs (B220+ Gr-1 + MHCIIlo) (112). Furthermore, although CD103+ and CD11bhi RDCs similarly activate CD4+ T cells in terms of proliferation and cytokine production, CD103+ DCs induced more robust activation of CD8 T cells, leading to increased proliferation and production of effector molecules (e.g., granzyme B and IFN-γ) (112). Additional studies support differential activation of CD8 T cells by CD103+ RDCs and CD11bhi RDCs, as determined by homing/migration patterns, proliferation, and the expression of activation markers, effector molecules, and transcription factors important for T cell fate (113).
The respiratory tract can be divided into two sections; the upper respiratory tract (URT) is comprised of the nose, mouth, and pharynx, whereas the lower respiratory tract (LRT) includes the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Studies by Pizzolla et al. show distinct requirements between TRM in the upper vs. LRT. TRM in the URT can develop independently of local cognate antigen and TGF-β, exhibit increased longevity over time, and are sufficient to prevent dissemination of influenza infection from the URT to the LRT, thereby protecting against severe disease (104). These results suggest the factors that affect the generation and/or maintenance of TRM can vary by location. In addition, comparison of lung CD8+ TRM against two immunodominant influenza epitopes, NP366–374/Db and PA224–233/Db shows distinct transcriptional profiles, suggesting a role for specific pMHC:TCR interaction parameters, such as avidity, in the differentiation of TRM, in addition to presence of cognate antigen (114).
After the resolution of infection, lung TRM wane over time and this loss is associated with impaired control of heterosubtypic influenza virus challenge. Recent work by Slütter et al. shows loss of lung-resident TRM is due to apoptosis rather than migration, and TRM maintenance in the short term depends on immigration of circulating CD8+ memory T cells. In addition, TEM are precursors of lung TRM, boosting of TEM results in increased frequency of TRM in lung, and TNF-α is important for recruitment and conversion of memory CD8 T cells to TRM phenotype (115). Furthermore, late circulating memory CD8 T cells (>100 days post infection) have an inherently decreased capacity to form lung TRM, as compared with early circulating memory cells (20–30 days post infection); this is reflected by differences in transcriptional profiles (115). Compared with early memory, late memory CD8 T cells have differential expression of three TRM master regulators (Eomes, Blimp-1, and Hobit) and decreased expression of various genes important for T cell migration (115).
Heterologous infections have been shown to alter epitope immunodominance, CD4+ T cell Th1/Th2 ratio, cytokine levels (e.g., TNF-α), and augment expression of antigen presentation and co-stimulatory molecule expression on APCs (35, 47, 54, 116). Collectively, these data suggest sequential acute and chronic co-infection may alter factors known to play a key role in the establishment and maintenance of TRM, and underscore the importance of studies which examine these relationships. Increased numbers or diversity of lung CD8+ TRM could result in more rapid control of influenza virus and improved illness outcome, or excessive responses and immunopathology. However, vaccination studies suggest the former is more likely, and transcriptional analysis of TRM suggests they have augmented expression of co-inhibitory molecules, which likely act to minimize immunopathology (88, 102, 104–107). Alternatively, decreased numbers or diversity of lung CD8+ TRM may lead to variant escape, impaired control of influenza virus growth, and immunopathology due to prolonged inflammatory immune responses.
Conclusion
Memory T cells specific for conserved influenza epitopes can be advantageous during an outbreak of an antigenically distinct viral strain. Indeed, several vaccine studies in mouse models show vaccines which boost memory CD8 T cells can confer protection during heterosubtypic challenge. However, while a robust memory CD8 T cell population can lead to a rapid immune response to secondary infection and protect against severe disease, detrimental effects are possible. Cross-reactive clones may dominate the response to heterologous challenge and lead to a narrowed TCR repertoire. As previously discussed, heterologous infection with LCMV and PV alters the immunodominance of the CD8 T cell response, such that a normally subdominant NP205 epitope becomes immunodominant (54). Additional work in this model shows the TCR repertoire is narrowed to the extent that it results in an escape variant (117). Furthermore, studies in various infectious disease models have demonstrated an excessively large CD8 T cell response may lead to enhanced immunopathology and more severe illness outcome (56, 61, 118, 119).
Collectively, the studies reviewed here demonstrate that various heterologous infection scenarios can alter the primary T cell response and establishment or maintenance of the memory CD8 T cell pool. Specifically, heterologous acute sequential and chronic co-infection may result in: early migration of CD8 T cells to the site of infection, altered immunodominance hierarchies, inclusion in the anti-viral response of cross-reactive and/or lower avidity CD8 T cells, changes in cytokine levels, altered transcriptional profiles of naive and memory T cells, and changes in the differentiation of APCs (Table 2). Augmented activation of APCs (i.e., higher expression of co-stimulatory molecules) and/or production of cytokines (by APCs or CD4s) important for CD8 T cell differentiation or bystander activation of memory CD8 T cells would lower the threshold of activation for inclusion into the anti-influenza T cell response, thereby increasing the diversity of the TCR repertoire by facilitating the inclusion of low avidity and/or cross-reactive clones that would otherwise not be present. Thus, additional studies which more accurately reflect pathogen encounters in humans are needed to optimize vaccination strategies by inducing diverse, local memory CD8 T cell responses, while minimizing loss due to attrition and preventing immunopathology due to excessive pro-inflammatory responses.
Table 2. Overview of studies showing heterologous acute sequential or chronic co-infection can alter influenza virus immunity.
Author Contributions
PT assisted in planning and editing the review. AS planned and wrote the review, and designed and created the figure.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Funding
This work was supported by HHSN272201400006C and R01AI107625 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, and The Hartwell Foundation and ALSAC at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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Keywords: CD8+ T cells, influenza, heterologous, bystander, attrition, memory, cross-reactivity, chronic co-infection
Citation: Souquette A and Thomas PG (2018) Past Life and Future Effects—How Heterologous Infections Alter Immunity to Influenza Viruses. Front. Immunol. 9:1071. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01071
Received: 03 March 2018; Accepted: 30 April 2018;
Published: 22 May 2018
Edited by:
Andrea Sant, David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, United StatesReviewed by:
Tara Marlene Strutt, University of Central Florida, United StatesKim Klonowski, University of Georgia, United States
Copyright: © 2018 Souquette and Thomas. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Paul G. Thomas, paul.thomas@stjude.org