The inflationary T cells, which increase in numbers during the persistent phase of infection, are phenotypically characterized by an “effector-memory (EM)”-like appearance (CD27low/CD62Llow/CD127−/KLRG1+; e.g., the CD8+ T cell response against the m139419–426, M38316–323, IE3416–423 epitopes in MCMV). The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is infection.