AUTHOR=Liu Xin , Li Haoran , Li Shanshan , Yuan Jinfeng , Pang Yu 

TITLE=Maintenance and recall of memory T cell populations against tuberculosis: Implications for vaccine design

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1100741

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1100741

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Despite the widespread use of standardised drug regimens, advanced diagnostics, and <italic>Mycobacterium bovis</italic> Bacille-Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines, the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic remains uncontrollable. To address this challenge, improved vaccines are urgently required that can elicit persistent immunologic memory, the hallmark of successful vaccines. Nonetheless, the processes underlying the induction and maintenance of immunologic memory are not entirely understood. Clarifying how memory T cells (Tm cells) are created and survive long term may be a crucial step towards the development of effective T cell–targeted vaccines. Here, we review research findings on the memory T cell response, which involves mobilization of several distinct Tm cell subsets that are required for efficient host suppression of <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> (Mtb) activity. We also summaries current knowledge related to the T cell response-based host barrier against Mtb infection and discuss advantages and disadvantages of novel TB vaccine candidates.</p>