title: Intrinsic immunogenicity of an internal VP1 T-B epitope pair of type 1 poliovirus.
abstract: We describe the intrinsic immunogenicity of a poliovirus T-B epitope pair that is located in the N-terminus of the capsid protein VP1. This peptide is unusual in that it is located on the interior of the native virion at the VP1-VP3 interface in a region that becomes exposed after cell binding, proteolysis, or heating of the virus. Immunization of mice with either the virion or free peptide leads to anti-peptide antibody production. Anti-peptide immunity is under genetic control and 1-Ak restricted T cell proliferative responses have been identified. SJL/J (H-2s) mice that are low responders to this T-B epitope pair are also low responders to PSV-1 itself, suggesting that this site may be important in the production of neutralizing anti-PSV-1 antibodies. Interestingly, seropositive humans also have significant anti-peptide titers suggesting that immunization with poliovirus in a species permissive for infection also leads to anti-peptide antibody production. Collectively, these data suggest that a T-B epitope pair located on the interior of a protein or virion can be immunogenic. Several mechanisms whereby internal T-B epitope pairs might become immunogenic are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C442540:VP1 protein, Poliovirus