Qa-1-Restricted CD8+ T Cells Can Compensate for the Absence of Conventional T Cells during Viral Infection

Abstract

T cells are sufficient to protect against MCMV-induced lethality. We also demonstrate that the MHC class Ib molecule Qa-1 (encoded by H2-T23) restricts a large, and critical, portion of this population. These findings reveal a potential adaptation of the host immune response to compensate for viral evasion of classical T cell immunity.