CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes of a cynomolgus macaque infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) mac32H-J5 recognize a nine amino acid epitope in SIV Gag p26.
A detailed analysis of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses and the identification of the proteins and epitopes they target may improve the design of immunotherapeutic interventions and provide insights into AIDS pathogenesis. Here, we identified a new CTL epitope in the SIV Gag protein, recognized by CD8+ and MHC class I-restricted CTL clones from a long-term asymptomatic cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) infected with SIVmac32H-J5. Using overlapping synthetic peptides, the optimal minimal epitope was characterized as a nine amino acid peptide representing amino acids 242-250 of p26 (SVDEQIQWM). CTL recognition was shown to be abolished by amino acid substitutions observed within homologous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and HIV-2 sequences.
Geretti
A M
AM
Institute of Virology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hulskotte
E G
EG
Dings
M E
ME
van Baalen
C A
CA
van Amerongen
G
G
Osterhaus
A D
AD
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015683:Gene Products, gag