Characterization of a B-cell immunodominant epitope of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) envelope gp46.
The immune response elicited by a synthetic peptide derived from an immunodominant external envelope region (Env-5, amino acids 242-257) of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) was tested in a rabbit model of HTLV-I infection. The synthetic peptide elicited a strong antibody response to the HTLV-I envelope protein gp46; however, these antibodies failed to inhibit HTLV-I-mediated cell fusion. Immunized rabbits were not protected from HTLV-I infection as determined by seroconversion to viral core proteins by immunoblot, HTLV-I p24 antigen detection in lymphocyte cultures and polymerase chain reaction for the HTLV-I provirus in lymphocyte DNA. Env-5 peptide immunization failed to induce T-cell lymphocyte proliferative responses in rabbits, but induced antibody responses in T-cell deficient Balb c nu/nu mice suggesting that the antigenic determinant represented by the Env-5 peptide is primarily a B-cell epitope. These results further define an immunodominant epitope of the HTLV-I envelope protein and suggest that potential synthetic peptide vaccines against HTLV-I infection must contain multiple antigens that induce both humoral and cellular immune reactivity.
Lairmore
M D
MD
Retrovirus Diseases Branch, Centers For Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
Rudolph
D L
DL
Roberts
B D
BD
Dezzutti
C S
CS
Lal
R B
RB
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015485:Deltaretrovirus Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000382:microbiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011817:Rabbits; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000276:immunology*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
D015485:Deltaretrovirus Antigens; D015686:Gene Products, env; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D010455:Peptides; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014764:Viral Proteins; C055266:gp46 protein, Human T-cell leukemia virus type I; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D004247:DNA