Regulation of the generation and maintenance of T-cell memory: a direct, default pathway from effectors to memory cells.

Memory T cells are derived directly from effector cells without need for additional antigen, TcR triggering or induced cytokines. A large fraction of effectors can become memory cells without division, supporting a default pathway with little further differentiation. This suggests that the same signals during infection/vaccination determine the extent and nature of both effector and memory cell development.