Killer T cells join the Zika fight

What kills you makes you stronger.

Zika. The viral horror story of 2016. Harrowing to unborn babies, it has resulted in abnormally small heads in thousands of births. Although the infection now seems to be under control, there’s still much to learn about this horrendous virus and the unforgiving assassins of your immune system, T cells, play a much larger role than we previously thought.

T cells are a type of white blood cell that attack antigens (bad stuff like viruses and bacteria) directly. Not only that, but once at the battle site they send for reinforcements with messengers called cytokines. The cytokines tell the body to start inflammation. You know when you hurt yourself, swell and go red? That’s inflammation. Its purpose isn’t just to turn a pretty colour. It attracts more T cells to help out on the front line, and it seems, after recent research, that T cells are one of the main reasons the Zika virus is now under control.

Although there are different types of T cell, the ones important in fighting Zika are called killer T cells. Sounds epic and they are, albeit a little harsh. They are specifically there to kill infected cells. They’re like zombie slayers. If you’re infected, you’re as good as dead where a killer T cell is concerned. Great to have around (when you haven’t been bit). But, it seems these guys are the ones keeping Zika in check. You wouldn’t think what’s saving you is killing your own cells, would you.