Gene Expression-Based Identification of Antigen-Responsive CD8 T Cells on a Single-Cell Level.

CD8 T cells are important effectors of adaptive immunity against pathogens, tumors, and self antigens. Here, we asked how human cognate antigen-responsive CD8 T cells and their receptors could be identified in unselected single-cell gene expression data. Single-cell RNA sequencing and qPCR of dye-labeled antigen-specific cells identified large gene sets that were congruently up- or downregulated in virus-responsive CD8 T cells under different antigen presentation conditions.

Chronic Lyme disease: it's not all in our heads.

Those of us with chronic Lyme disease are not at all confused, as suggested by Sigal and Hassett (2002). We know from years of experience that we have real, specific symptoms that are usually painful and disabling and include severe headaches, crippling arthritis, and heart palpitations, which lead to serious heart disease. Many of us know that our symptoms are kept in check while we are on antibiotics, but they painfully reappear when the antibiotics are withdrawn.