CD8 T Cell Response to Trypanosoma cruzi Antigens during Chronic Chagas Disease.

Flow cytometry is a valuable technique in cellular immunology that allows evaluating effective parameters of the immune response associated with CD8 T cells. During Chagas disease, infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, similar to other intracellular infectious agents, antigen-specific CD8 T cells are essential for controlling the infection. However, CD8 T cell response is only partially effective in some chronic Chagas disease patients. Thus, characterization and phenotyping of T. cruzi-specific CD8 T cells are of great importance during chronic Chagas disease.