Comprehensive characterization of cellular immune responses following Ebola virus infection

The West-African Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak was the largest EVD outbreak in history. However, data on lymphocyte dynamics and antigen-specificity of T-cells in Ebola survivors are scarce and our understanding of EVD-pathophysiology is limited.The care for an EVD-survivor, who cleared the infection without experimental drugs allowed for the detailed examination of lymphocyte dynamics. We demonstrate persistence of T-cell activation well beyond viral clearance and detect Ebola-specific T-cells. Our study provides significant insights into lymphocyte specificity during the re-convalescent phase of EVD and may inform novel strategies to treat EVD.