# Understanding the functional agility of effector memory CD8 T cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2022 · $551,436

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Memory CD8 T cells with varying functional characteristics are generated after infection or
immunization. We previously defined a population of T cells within the CD62Llo effector memory
compartment that express high levels of effector molecules and continue to persist into the
memory phase. Although over time in specific pathogen free mice LLECs tend to wane in
number, they represent a substantial fraction of CD8 memory T cells in ‘dirty mice’ and
dominate the secondary and tertiary memory pools. Importantly, our prior work showed that
these ‘long-lived effector cells’ (LLEC) are the most robust memory T cells for mediating
antigen-specific clearance of systemic viral and bacterial pathogens. Our recent RNA
sequencing data indicates that LLEC may achieve this through unique expression of multiple
NK cell-associated receptors as well as chemokine and trafficking molecules that may enforce
their strict localization to the vasculature at the steady state. In this proposal we will determine:
1) if LLECs participate in tissue-initiated infections through either extravasation or from their
position within the vasculature, 2) if NK cell receptors modulate LLEC function, and 3) if the
LLEC subset uniquely thrives during inflammation for its persistence. Our proposal leverages
recent transcriptional analysis along with innovative mouse models and technical approaches to
understand the signals governing how circulating memory T cell populations mediate protective
immunity. We predict our studies will expose novel considerations for generating robust memory
T cell function, ultimately leading to improved vaccination and immunotherapy approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10448299
- **Project number:** 5R01AI155468-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Sara Elizabeth Hamilton Hart
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $551,436
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-09 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10448299

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10448299, Understanding the functional agility of effector memory CD8 T cells (5R01AI155468-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10448299. Licensed CC0.

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