Sustained CD8+ T-cell responses induced after acute parvovirus B19 infection in humans

Murine models have suggested that CD8(+) T-cell responses peak early in acute viral infections and are not sustained, but no evidence for humans has been available. To address this, we longitudinally analyzed the CD8(+) T-cell response to human parvovirus B19 in acutely infected individuals. We observed striking CD8(+) T-cell responses, which were sustained or even increased over many months after the resolution of acute disease, indicating that CD8(+) T cells may play a prominent role in the control of parvovirus B19 and other acute viral infections of humans, including potentially those generated by live vaccines.