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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay (ELISPOT): Quantification of Th-1 Cellular Immune Responses Against Microbial Antigens
Published on: November 24, 2010
Quantitative studies of CD8+ T-cell responses during microbial infection
Natalya Serbina1, Eric G Pamer
1Infectious Diseases Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Immunology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York 10021, USA. serbinan@mskcc.org
Insights
Quantitative methods precisely measure CD8(+) T-cell responses to infections. Recent studies reveal surprising insights into T-cell priming, expansion, and memory formation during microbial infections.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbial Pathogenesis
- Adaptive Immunity
Background:
- Quantitative methods like MHC class I tetramer staining, intracellular cytokine staining, and ELISPOT assays are crucial for studying T-cell responses.
- These techniques allow precise measurement of CD8(+) T-cell activity during and after infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight recent advancements in understanding CD8(+) T-cell responses to microbial infections.
- To emphasize the surprising insights gained from applying quantitative methods to infection models.
Main Methods:
- MHC class I tetramer staining
- Intracellular cytokine staining
- ELISPOT assays
Main Results:
- Application of quantitative methods provides novel insights into mammalian adaptive immunity.
- Significant new findings emerged in the past year regarding CD8(+) T-cell priming, expansion, and memory formation in response to microbial infections.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative immunological assays are essential tools for dissecting adaptive immune responses.
- Ongoing research continues to uncover complex mechanisms of T-cell-mediated immunity during infections.
Abstract:
MHC class I tetramer staining, intracellular cytokine staining and ELISPOT assays have made it possible to quantify CD8(+) T-cell responses precisely during and following viral and bacterial infection. Although these quantitative methods are by now familiar and trusted components of the immunologist's toolbox, their application to models of microbial infection continues to provide surprising insights into mammalian adaptive immunity. In the past year there have been many exciting new findings on CD8(+) T-cell priming, expansion and memory formation in response to microbial infection.
