CD8+ T cells eliminate influenza virus infection by recognizing conserved viral proteins presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I glycoproteins (8), thus protecting influenza-infected individuals against a diverse range of human-derived (i.e., H1N1 and H3N2), swine-derived (i.e., pandemic H1N1), and the more recently described deadly avian-derived (i.e., H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2) influenza viruses (9–11). Here, CD8A is linked to influenza.