Research on CTLs has been booming in recent years—there are more than 250 papers related to CD8 T-cells published every month. With such rapid advancement in this particular aspect of immunology alone, it is important to summarize and report information on this hot topic in a timely and organized fashion. Although the submission window for this issue was open for a significantly shorter period compared to the last issue on this topic, we received an even broader depth of reviews on many different aspects of CTL function and application including some focused on the development of vaccines against cancer and viral infections. For example, by reviewing mechanisms of T-cell evasion by tumors, novel approaches were proposed to improve the anticancer capacity of T-cells including the adoptive transfer of T-cells as an alternative methodology to deliver tumor-associated antigens and DC-associated molecules. In addition, vaccination strategies against infectious diseases targeting CTLs and the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and as well as the induction of effector CTL responses in mucosal sites are also proposed. Lastly, a new detection method of virus-specific CTLs in filovirus infection and a model system reported to target both CTL and CD4 epitopes in viral infections are also described.
Acknowledgments
In closing, we wish to thank all of the authors for their high level of enthusiasm in providing high quality manuscripts to support this special issue and appreciate their effort and time spent processing their manuscripts. We also extend much gratitude to all of the reviewers, most of whom reviewed at least two versions of the same manuscript, for their time and effort. We hope the scientific information presented within this special issue will be helpful to both CTL aficionados and the broader immunological community and promote new avenues of exploration for scientists studying CTLs in the context of vaccine development.
Zhengguo Xiao
Kim Klonowski
Hanchun Yang
Julie Curtsinger