title: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitope vaccination protects against human metapneumovirus infection and disease in mice.
abstract: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has emerged as an important human respiratory pathogen causing upper and lower respiratory tract infections in young children and older adults. In addition, hMPV infection is associated with asthma exacerbation in young children. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates that hMPV may cocirculate with human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) and mediate clinical disease similar to that seen with hRSV. Therefore, a vaccine for hMPV is highly desirable. In the present study, we used predictive bioinformatics, peptide immunization, and functional T-cell assays to define hMPV cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes recognized by mouse T cells restricted through several major histocompatibility complex class I alleles, including HLA-A*0201. We demonstrate that peptide immunization with hMPV CTL epitopes reduces viral load and immunopathology in the lungs of hMPV-challenged mice and enhances the expression of Th1-type cytokines (gamma interferon and interleukin-12 [IL-12]) in lungs and regional lymph nodes. In addition, we show that levels of Th2-type cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) are significantly lower in hMPV CTL epitope-vaccinated mice challenged with hMPV. These results demonstrate for the first time the efficacy of an hMPV CTL epitope vaccine in the control of hMPV infection in a murine model.
authors.affiliation: Sir Albert Sakzewski Virus Research Centre, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston Road, Herston QLD 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Herd
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nissen
authors.forename: Theo P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Sloots
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Tindle
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019295:Computational Biology; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma