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“attacks a type of T Cell whose function it is to identify targets for the immune system.”

That statement is wrong.

Would attacking thise type of T cell make the immune system less likely to also be able to identify and target infections?

Your question is based on a false premise. As a general rule, most types of T cells, white blood cells also known as T lymphocytes, attack. The exception is T helper cells, IIRC.

I'm not an immunologist, but here's a section on CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY, the part that involves T cells. Humoral immunity involves B cells which generate antibodies. There's a fair amount of interplay between all the parts of the immune system, and plenty that's still not understood.

The link is from a med school immunology and microbiology course or courses. I took them as separate courses over 20 years ago.

From the JDRF- The nanoparticle vaccine worked by expanding the number of peptide-specific regulatory T cells that suppressed the aggressive immune attack that destroys beta cells. The expanded peptide-specific regulatory cells shut down the autoimmune attack by preventing aggressive autoimmune cells from being stimulated by either the peptide contained in the vaccine or by any other type 1 diabetes autoantigen presented simultaneously on the same antigen presenting cell. The research also provided an important insight into the ability to translate these findings in mice into therapeutics for people with diabetes: nanoparticles that contained human diabetes-related molecules were able to restore normal blood sugar levels in a humanized mouse model of diabetes. According to Teodora Staeva, Ph.D., JDRF Program Director of Immune Therapies, a key finding from the Alberta study is that only the immune cells specifically focused on aggressively destroying beta cells (or, alternatively, regulating these cells) responded to the antigen-specific nanoparticle vaccine. That means the treatment did not compromise the rest of the immune system – a key consideration for the treatment to be safe and effective in an otherwise healthy person with type 1 diabetes. "The potential that nanoparticle vaccine therapy holds in reversing the immune attack without generally suppressing the immune system is significant," said Dr. Staeva. "Dr. Santamaria's research has provided both insight into pathways for developing new immunotherapies and proof-of-concept of a specific therapy that exploits these pathways for preventing and reversing type 1 diabetes."

Neverdem, thanks for your input. However, because what you said is correct doesnt make my statement wrong. Just a different way of attempting to explain. Answer was intended to be in "plain english" as Chris requested. To your comment, there are 6 types of T cells that I am aware of. 2 types, memory T and helper T do not attack foreign bodies. The remaining 4, cytotoxic, suppressor, gamma delta and nk cells do the heavy lifting

Chris,your followup question is addressed in the above text.

Hope this helps. Best of luck to both of you.