IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Skull bone marrow is an early source of antiviral CD8 T cell priming and expansion during neurotropic virus infection

Skull bone marrow is an early source of antiviral CD8 T cell priming and expansion during neurotropic virus infection

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Video Summary

Dr. Asma Hassani presented work showing that neurotropic virus infection in the brain can rapidly trigger antiviral CD8 T-cell responses in the skull bone marrow. Using Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection in mice, her team found viral RNA in skull marrow early after infection and observed expansion of virus-specific CD8 T cells there by day 4. This response followed a rise in CD11c+ dendritic cells and depended on antigen presentation by MHC class I molecules on these APCs, especially H2-Db early and H2-Kb later in chronic infection. Experiments with FTY720 and parabiosis suggested these T cells originate outside the skull and seed the skull marrow through peripheral circulation. Overall, the study identifies skull bone marrow as an early and dynamic site for antiviral T-cell priming during brain infection.

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Date April 16, 2026 12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

Room 104AB

Session CD8+ T Cell and NK Cell Mediated Antiviral Immunity

Speaker Asma Hassani

Track Viral Immunology (VIR)

Year 2026

Keywords

skull bone marrow

antiviral CD8 T-cell response

Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus

MHC class I antigen presentation

brain infection

April 16, 2026 12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

104AB

CD8+ T Cell and NK Cell Mediated Antiviral Immunity

Asma Hassani

Viral Immunology (VIR)

2026