Final answer:
An infected cell will be targeted for destruction by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, which play a key role in the cell-mediated immune response by inducing apoptosis in pathogen-infected cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
A cell that has been infected with an intracellular pathogen will be targeted for destruction by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. These cytotoxic T cells, also known as Tc cells, are a type of lymphocyte that plays a crucial role in the cell-mediated part of the adaptive immune system.
Their primary function is to identify and eliminate cells that have been compromised by intracellular pathogens, typically before the pathogens can replicate and cause further harm. Once activated, these T cells can recognize specific pathogen epitopes presented on the cell surface by MHC I molecules. They induce apoptosis in the infected cells, often with the assistance of perforins and granzymes contained in their cytoplasmic granules, or through the expression of Fas ligand.