Mapping and role of T cell response in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice

By using SARS-CoV-2 sensitive mice by transduction with hACE2 expressing adenovirus, the role of T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 were studied. The authors identified SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell epitopes recognized by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the infected-lung. The type-I interferon pathway was proved to be critical for these T cell responses. The immunized T cells with such identified epitopes alone were partially effective for the protection. Moreover, cross-reactive T cell responses between SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, not MERS-CoV, were observed.