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Bystanders or real players: virtual memory T cells keep chronic infections in check

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 17, pages 797–798 (2020)Cite this article

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Jin et al. demonstrate that a recently defined T-cell population, known as virtual memory T cells, accumulate with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are inversely correlated with latent viral load and may be uniquely well suited to eliminate latently infected cells during chronic infections.

Infection with HIV presents many challenges to the immune system, but viral reservoirs are one of the most intractable. Treatment of HIV has been revolutionized by antiretroviral therapy (ART), which effectively ablates viral replication in patients. Unfortunately, a real cure remains elusive, as HIV will persist in latently infected cells. The identification of immune mechanisms that can reduce this latent reservoir may improve treatment and progress cure strategies for HIV. In this issue, Jin et al. demonstrate that the activity of an unconventional immune cell, the virtual memory T (TVM) cell, may play a role.1

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Acknowledgements

K.M.Q. is supported by an RMIT University Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellowship and the Rebecca L. Cooper Foundation. T.H. is supported by the Monash Graduate Scholarship and Monash International Postgraduate Research Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia

    Kylie M. Quinn

  2. Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Kylie M. Quinn & Tabinda Hussain

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Kylie M. Quinn & Tabinda Hussain

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  1. Kylie M. Quinn
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  2. Tabinda Hussain
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Correspondence to Kylie M. Quinn.

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Quinn, K.M., Hussain, T. Bystanders or real players: virtual memory T cells keep chronic infections in check. Cell Mol Immunol 17, 797–798 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-020-0469-9

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