Open AccessImmunologic memory in cutaneous leishmaniasis
Author(s) -
Scott Phillip
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2005.00626.x
Subject(s) - biology , effector , immunity , immunology , leishmania , leishmaniasis , parasite hosting , leishmania major , virology , cutaneous leishmaniasis , population , cellular immunity , immune system , medicine , environmental health , world wide web , computer science
Summary Leishmania major infections induce solid immunity to reinfection. Experimental studies in mice indicate that the CD4+ T cells responsible for this immunity include two populations: parasite‐dependent T effector cells and parasite‐independent central memory T (Tcm) cells. While there currently is no vaccine for leishmaniasis, the existence of a long‐lived population of Tcm cells that does not require the continued presence of live parasites suggests that a vaccine that expands these cells might be efficacious.