Comprehensive Characterization of Cellular Immune Responses Following Ebola Virus Infection

Abstract

The West African Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak was the largest EVD outbreak in history. However, data on lymphocyte dynamics and the antigen specificity of T cells in Ebola survivors are scarce, and our understanding of EVD pathophysiology is limited. A case of EVD survival in which the patient cleared Ebola virus (EBOV) infection without experimental drugs allowed for the detailed examination of lymphocyte dynamics. We demonstrate the persistence of T-cell activation well beyond viral clearance and detect EBOV-specific T cells. Our study provides significant insights into lymphocyte specificity during the recovery phase of EVD and may inform novel strategies to treat EVD.

Keywords: EVD; EVD survivor; Ebola GP–specific T-cell responses; T-cell activation; cellular immune response; convalescent phase; lymphocyte dynamics; polyfunctional T-cell responses.