Figure 3. . Hypothetical roles of brain tissue-resident immune memory cells in secondary infection with a wild-type rabies virus.

We envisaged two possible scenarios in wild-type RABV clearance: (A) memory T cells promote BBB permeability, but immune effectors entering the brain from the circulation are responsible for virus clearance, or (B) tissue-resident memory cells are primarily responsible for virus clearance from the CNS.

BBB: Blood–brain barrier; EC: Endothelial cell; RABV: Rabies virus; VNA: Virus neutralizing antibody.