Identification of a rabies virus T cell epitope on the basis of its similarity with a hepatitis B surface antigen peptide presented to T cells by the same MHC molecule (HLA-DPw4).
The antigenic determinant recognized by a HLA-DPw4-restricted human T cell clone specific for rabies virus was identified by using a vaccinia-rabies nonstructural phosphoprotein recombinant virus and synthetic peptides of the sequence of rabies nonstructural Ag. These peptides were selected on the basis of three models that predict T cell epitopes. The antigenic determinant recognized by the rabies virus-specific T cell clone contained a five-amino acid segment highly homologous to a sequence found in a hepatitis B surface Ag epitope that stimulates human T cells in the context of the HLA-DPw4. A preliminary model of DPw4-restricted T cell determinants is elaborated based on a hypothesis of how the 2 alpha-helical peptides may bind to this MHC molecule. Results are further discussed in the context of the usefulness in identifying DPw4-restricted T cell epitopes for the production of synthetic vaccines because this MHC class II molecule is found with high frequency in the population.
T Cell Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02139.
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Celis
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J
Larson
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L
Otvos
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WH
Wunner
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002213:Capsid / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D000939:Epitopes; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins