The development and function of effector and memory CD4 T cells during infection

Viruses represent the most common cause of acute respiratory inflammation and gastroenteritis in humans and are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide.

T cells can directly eliminate pathogens and develop into functionally diverse effector and memory subsets that provide pathogen resistance and long-term immunity.My postdoctoral research was to understand how intestinal T cells respond to enteric viruses.

To accomplish this, I developed a novel polyclonal T cell fate-mapping strategy and I found that during enteric virus infections, a particular subset of T cells is recruited to and differentiates within the intestinal tissue.

These T cells exhibit unique adaptation to the intestinal environment, acquire anti-viral properties, and provide cross-protection against homologous and heterologous viral challenges.Building on this knowledge, I now propose to study the heterogeneity and plasticity of memory CD4+ T cells during viral infections and assess the impact of tissue-derived signals.

I aim to determine the functional role and clonal relationship of different CD4+ T cell subsets during viral infections and inflammation.These questions will be addressed by using murine models of pathogen infection, novel polyclonal fate-mapping models, genetic tools and transcriptomics.

The knowledge gained can improve vaccination strategies and promote the understanding of T cell immunity and T cell-mediated immunopathology during inflammation, allergy, and autoimmunity.