The efficiency of the human CD8+ T cell response: how should we quantify it, what determines it, and does it matter?

Elemans, Marjet; Seich Al Basatena, Nafisa-Katrin; Asquith, Becca · PLoS Comput Biol · 2012

expert_opinion · Level V

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Abstract

Multidisciplinary techniques, in particular the combination of theoretical and experimental immunology, can address questions about human immunity that cannot be answered by other means. From the turnover of virus-infected cells in vivo, to rates of thymic production and HLA class I epitope prediction, theoretical techniques provide a unique insight to supplement experimental approaches. Here we present our opinion, with examples, of some of the ways in which mathematics has contributed in our field of interest: the efficiency of the human CD8+ T cell response to persistent viruses.

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