Application of the intracellular gamma interferon assay to recalculate the potency of CD8+ T-cell responses to herpes simplex virus

Enumeration and characterization of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes are tedious and indirect. We quantitated antigen specific CD8(+) T cells during acute and secondary stages of HSV infection using intracellular gamma interferon production upon stimulation with virus or immunodominant peptide. Results show a substantial increase in the number of CD8(+) T cells which was otherwise underestimated with the conventional limiting dilution analysis.