Both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein have been associated with reduced severity of COVID-19, indicating a role for T cells in limiting viral pathogenesis. In addition, spike-specific CD4+ T follicular helper (TFH) cells support B cell maturation and neutralizing antibody production. Using a novel peptide–MHC tetramer to track human spike-specific CD4+ T cells, Wragg et al. now demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination induces robust CXCR5– T memory and circulating TFH cell responses, which are efficiently recalled upon antigen re-exposure and may contribute to long-term protection against SARS-CoV-2.
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Wragg, K. M. et al. Establishment and recall of SARS-CoV-2 spike epitope-specific CD4+T cell memory. Nat. Immunol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01175-5 (2022)
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Flemming, A. New tool to investigate spike-specific CD4+ T cells. Nat Rev Immunol 22, 275 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-022-00723-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-022-00723-2
