Immunodominance in TCD8+ responses to viruses:: Cell biology, cellular immunology, and mathematical models

Highlights from a Fundacion Juan March Interdisciplinary Meeting. CD8(+) T cells (TCD8+) play a critical role in immunity to viruses. A central feature of antiviral TCD8+ responses is immunodominance: out of thousands of potential target peptides, only a handful generate measurable responses. A recent Fundacion Juan March Meeting brought together scientists working on the various steps in antigen presentation and T cell biology that contribute to immunodominance, whose understanding is key to rationally developing vaccines meant to elicit effective antiviral TCD8+ responses.