To determine the contribution of lung-resident CD103+ and/or CD11bhi RDC to the induction of an in vivo adaptive immune response in the draining MLN following influenza infection, we examined the impact of elimination of CD103+ and CD11bhi RDC from the respiratory tract on the activation and proliferation of virus-specific naïve CD8+ T cells in the DTR model. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is influenza.