killer T cell
noun
variants
or less commonly killer T lymphocyte
plural killer T cells also killer T lymphocytes
: cytotoxic t cell
The antigen receptors of killer T cells allow them to recognize the viral peptides, which signal that a cell must be destroyed as unhealthy.—
Harald von Boehmer et al.
Harald von Boehmer et al.A subset of lymphocytes known as killer T cells may also respond to the envelope protein by destroying infected cells.—William A. Haseltine et al.
William A. Haseltine et al.Examples of killer T cell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite its numerous mutations, omicron can trigger a strong killer T cell response.
—Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2022
In a recent study published in the journal Immunity, Wherry and colleagues found that in healthy people with no prior COVID-19 infection, helper T cells rose after the first dose and killer T cell counts rose after the second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
—Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2021
Even if a larger study confirmed that masturbating increases natural killer T cell levels, that alone doesn't say much.
—Mirel Zaman, refinery29.com, 23 Nov. 2020
Something about this shape made the HLA-HIV combination on infected cells in elite controllers extraordinarily good for being seen by killer T cells, which then destroyed the infected cell.
—Bruce D. Walker, Scientific American, 1 July 2012
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Mitzi Nagarkatti, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2022
In a recent study published in the journal Immunity, Wherry and colleagues found that in healthy people with no prior COVID-19 infection, helper T cells rose after the first dose and killer T cell counts rose after the second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
—Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2021
Even if a larger study confirmed that masturbating increases natural killer T cell levels, that alone doesn't say much.
—Mirel Zaman, refinery29.com, 23 Nov. 2020
Something about this shape made the HLA-HIV combination on infected cells in elite controllers extraordinarily good for being seen by killer T cells, which then destroyed the infected cell.
—Bruce D. Walker, Scientific American, 1 July 2012
Cite this Entry
“Killer T cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer%20T%20cell. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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