CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE EFFECTOR FUNCTIONS IN CHICKENS

Cell-mediated immune responses form an important part of the protectio n against intracellular pathogens. The MHC Class I and Class II antige ns are important for the proper presentation of degraded proteins to c ytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and helper T cells, respectively. Recent developments in the knowledge of the molecular structure of the MHC in relation to antigen presentation are discussed. Although CTL are impo rtant, there is a paucity of information concerning their relevance fo r the control of viral diseases in poultry. A newly developed approach of stable transfection of viral genes into cell lines transformed by reticuloendotheliosis virus has shown promise as a method to define pr oteins, which are important for the induction of cell-mediated immunit y.