In this model, control of virus replication and prevention of lethal CMV disease in the transiently immunocompromised HCT recipients proved to be based on rapid lympho-hematopoietic reconstitution of antiviral CD8+ T cells that infiltrate infected tissues and confine the infection to NIF before an extensive viral histopathology can lead to organ failure (Holtappels et al., 1998; Podlech et al., 1998, 2000). Here, CD8A is linked to infection.