The Role of Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in Viral Infections and Their Function in Vaccine Development

Mucosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells, which bridge innate and adaptive immunity, have emerged as an important player in viral infections despite their inability to directly recognize viral antigens. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of MAIT cell responses across different viral infections, revealing consistent patterns in their behavior and function. We discuss the dynamics of MAIT cells during various viral infections, including changes in their frequency, activation status, and functional characteristics. Particular attention is given to emerging strategies for MAIT-cell-targeted vaccine development, including the use of MR1 ligands as mucosal adjuvants and the activation of MAIT cells through viral vectors and mRNA vaccines. Current knowledge of MAIT cell biology in viral infections provides promising approaches for harnessing their functions in vaccine development.