Cellular immunotherapy for viral infections in solid organ transplant recipients

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Abstract
Defects in immune containment of persistent viral infections are associated with an increased frequency and severity of viral diseases. Initial investigation in the animal model, and, more recently, the first trials in humans indicate that adoptive transfer of relatively small numbers of the relevant antigen-specific T cells can restore protective immunity and control established viral infection in the immunosuppressed host. Current efforts of antiviral cellular immunotherapy in solid organ transplant recipients focus on developing strategies to activate autologous virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from virus-seropositive and, more importantly, virus-seronegative patients, and optimizing T-cell infusion protocols.