Cellular immune response in virus infections

Two levels of specificity exist in the killing of virus infected target cells by immune effector T cells. One relates to the classic specificity for the virus, and the second involves the necessity for sharing expression of genes mapping in K and D but not I regions. Among the theories that could explain this is that of dual recognition with separate T-cell receptors detecting H-2 and viral antigen. Support for this possibility was provided by experimental influenza virus infection where evidence of specific recognition of viral products was obtained.