T cell control of malaria pathogenesis

► T cell responses during malaria are context specific and dictate pathogenesis. ► Effector memory CD8+ T cells provide protection to pre-erythrocytic Plasmodium. ► CD4+and CD8+ T cells influence the progression and outcome of erythrocytic infection. ► Regulatory T cells can be overwhelmed by inflammatory effector T cell responses. ► Systematic analysis of T cell function in diverse experimental systems is required.