Persistent T Cell Immunity following Nipah Virus Infection: Evidence from Malaysian Survivors.

Ibrahim, Puteri Ainaa S; Ong, Hui Ming; Cheong, Heng Choon; Tan, Chong Tin; Schee, Jie Ping; Avumegah, Michael Selorm; Wong, Won Fen; Chang, Li-Yen · J Infect Dis · 2026

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

Nipah virus (NiV) induces strong humoral immunity, but the durability of NiV-specific memory T cell responses remains unclear. We characterized cellular immunity approximately 25 years after infection in four survivors of the 1998 Malaysian outbreak. PBMCs were stimulated with overlapping peptide mini-pools spanning the NiV fusion (NiV-F) and attachment (NiV-G) glycoproteins, and responses were assessed using ELISpot and ICS. Durable cytokine-producing T cell responses were detected, with immunodominant epitopes in the NiV-G ectodomain. Survivors with neurological sequelae exhibited stronger T cell responses and cognitive impairment, highlighting persistent cellular immunity decades after infection with implications for vaccine development.