Protection against lethal lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection by immunization of mice with an influenza virus containing an LCMV epitope recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
The reverse genetics system has made it possible to modify the influenza virus genome. By this method, we were able to assess influenza virus as a vaccine vector for protecting BALB/c mice against otherwise lethal lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection. A single dose of influenza virus [A/WSN/33 (H1N1)] bearing a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-specific epitope of the LCMV nucleoprotein (residues 116 to 127) in the neuraminidase stalk protected mice against LCMV challenge for at least 4 months. The immunity was mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and was haplotype specific, indicating that the observed protective response was solely a consequence of prior priming with the H-2d LCMV nucleoprotein epitope expressed in the recombinant influenza virus. We also found that as many as 58 amino acids could be inserted into the neuraminidase stalk without loss of viral function. These findings demonstrate the potential of influenza virus as a vaccine vector, with the neuraminidase stalk as a repository for foreign epitopes.
Castrucci
M R
MR
Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101.
Hou
S
S
Doherty
P C
PC
Kawaoka
Y
Y
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D009439:Neuraminidase