Converting CMV-Specific Cells Into More Potent CAR-T Cells

CMV-specific T cell responses involve effector memory CD8+ T cells that resist exhaustion by maintaining their capacity for cytokine release, killing, and proliferation, a phenotype described as memory inflation.

We hypothesize that we can use synTac to activate and markedly expand CMV-specific CD8+ T cells and further redirect them to eliminate HIV-infected or cancerous cells. In this way, we can exploit the highly functional and resilient CMV-specific CD8+ T cell response to provide improved immune control of disease.