Herpes simplex virus type 1-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognize immediate-early protein ICP27.
The identity of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) antigens that serve as targets for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and their ability to induce protective immunity remain uncertain. In this article, we report the identification of the immediate-early protein ICP27 as a CTL antigen in H-2d mice but not in H-2k or H-2b mice. Calculation of the frequencies of H-2d-restricted virus-specific CTL demonstrated that approximately one-fourth of the total HSV-1-specific response was directed against ICP27. To define the location of this CTL epitope, four truncated derivatives of the ICP27 gene which place the epitope in a 217-amino-acid region (amino acids 189 to 406) near the central portion of the protein were constructed. Mice immunized with ICP27 were able both to induce HSV-1-specific CTL and to survive a lethal intraperitoneal challenge with virulent HSV-1. However, neither appreciable antibody nor delayed-type hypersensitivity responses were induced in immunized mice, and they were also unable to clear a local epithelial virus challenge. It appears that ICP27, although capable of inducing several aspects of the immune response, is by itself unable to provide complete immunity.
Banks
T A
TA
Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996-0845.
Allen
E M
EM
Dasgupta
S
S
Sandri-Goldin
R
R
Rouse
B T
BT
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004423:Ear / Q000382:microbiology; D000939:Epitopes; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D007114:Immunization; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; C057120:ICP27 protein, human herpesvirus 1; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014764:Viral Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines