Cell-mediated immune effector functions in chickens

Cell-mediated immune responses form an important part of the protection against intracellular pathogens. The MHC Class I and Class II antigens are important for the proper presentation of degraded proteins to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and helper T cells, respectively. Recent developments in the knowledge of the molecular structure of the MHC in relation to antigen presentation are discussed. Although CTL are important, there is a paucity of information concerning their relevance for the control of viral diseases in poultry. A newly developed approach of stable transfection of viral genes into cell lines transformed by reticuloendotheliosis virus has shown promise as a method to define proteins, which are important for the induction of cell-mediated immunity.