Anti-viral protective capacity of tissue resident memory T cells

It has become increasingly clear that a subset of T cells which persist at diverse infection sites, known as tissue-resident memory T cells (T_RM), can mediate efficacious protective immunity against many types of viral infections. Recent studies have elucidated the mechanisms by which T_RM coordinate enhanced viral clearance in different sites through rapid production of effector cytokines and cytolytic mediators, in situ expansion, differentiation to circulating effector cells, and immune cell recruitment. This tissue-localized response also includes enhancement at the local lymphoid sites which contribute to fortifying T_RM-mediated protection. Understanding how these responses occur in a tissue-wide context will provide key insights for development of vaccines and therapeutics.