Antagonists or altruists: do viral mutants modulate T-cell responses?
The ability of altered peptide ligands (APLs) to modify or downregulate T-cell responses in vitro has generated much interest. Recently, it was proposed that viral variants may contain mutations in cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes that allow mutual antagonism, and that these combine to downregulate the host immune response. Here, Miles Davenport discusses some inherent problems with this simple model and proposes a closer evaluation of the effects of viral competition on host-viral interactions.
Davenport
M P
MP
Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D014764:Viral Proteins