Transcriptional Memory-Like Imprints and Enhanced Functional Activity in γδ T Cells Following Resolution of Malaria Infection.

γδ T cells play an essential role in the immune response to many pathogens, including . However, long-lasting effects of infection on the γδ T cell population still remain inadequately understood. This study focused on assessing molecular and functional changes that persist in the γδ T cell population following resolution of malaria infection. We investigated transcriptional changes and memory-like functional capacity of malaria pre-exposed γδ T cells using a infection model. We show that multiple genes associated with effector function (chemokines, cytokines and cytotoxicity) and antigen-presentation were upregulated in -exposed γδ T cells compared to γδ T cells from naïve mice. This transcriptional profile was positively correlated with profiles observed in conventional memory CD8 T cells and was accompanied by enhanced reactivation upon secondary encounter with -infected red blood cells . Collectively our data demonstrate that exposure result in "memory-like imprints" in the γδ T cell population and also promotes γδ T cells that can support antigen-presentation during subsequent infections.