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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Opin Immunol. 2009 Jul 29;21(4):378–384. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2009.06.004

Figure 1. The importance of location and functionality of both antigen-specific lymphocytes and infected phagocytes in rapid vaccine-induced control of Mtb.

Figure 1

In order for vaccine-induced memory T cells to be effective against pulmonary challenge with Mtb they must be in the correct location i.e. in the lung close to where phagocytes first become infected. In addition, the infected phagocyte must be expressing signals (i.e. mycobacterial antigen in class I or class II) in order to activate the memory effector cells to locally express their effector function. The infected phagocyte within the lung must also be able to be responsive to the signals (both IFNγ dependent and independent) in order for mycobacterial growth to come under rapid control. While CD4 T cells mediate primary control of Mtb in infection, CD8 T cells can be activated by vaccination and mediate protection.