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Updated: May 19, 2026

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In Vivo Assay for Detection of Antigen-specific T-cell Cytolytic Function Using a Vaccination Model
Published on: November 28, 2017
Using vaccinations to assess in vivo immune function in psychoneuroimmunology
1School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. v.e.burns@bham.ac.uk
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 31, 2012
Abstract:
Finding clinically relevant measures of immune function is an important challenge in psychoneuroimmunological research. Here, we discuss the advantages of the vaccination model, and provide guidance on the methodological decisions that are important to consider in the use of this technique. These include the choice of vaccination, timing of assessments, and the available outcome measures.
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The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
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