title: Identification of a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitope recognized by Gag-specific CTLs in cynomolgus monkeys infected with simian/human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Infection of Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgus monkey) with chimeric simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) provides a valuable experimental animal model of AIDS and is widely used for the development of human immunodeficiency virus vaccine strategies. In these settings, analysis of CD8(+) T-cell responses during infection represents one of the key parameters for monitoring the evaluation of containment of virus replication. The generation of Gag-specific CD8(+) T cells was reported previously from a cynomolgus monkey infected with SHIV89.6P by taking advantage of a B-lymphoblastoid cell line transduced with a retroviral vector expressing simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag. Here, it was shown that these cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) demonstrated specificity for a single 9 aa peptide (NCVGDHQAA) spanning aa 192-200 of the SIVmac239 p55(gag) protein. Furthermore, a positive response was found against the same epitope in one of six other SHIV-infected monkeys. This newly identified SIV Gag CTL epitope in SHIV-infected cynomolgus monkeys will be a useful tool for monitoring and evaluating Gag-specific immune responses during vaccination and infection in the cynomolgus monkey model of AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella R M
authors.initials: DRM
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.affiliation: National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baroncelli
authors.affiliation: National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Iole
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Macchia
authors.affiliation: National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Buffa
authors.affiliation: National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sernicola
authors.affiliation: National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasqualina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.affiliation: National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Titti
authors.affiliation: National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000276:immunology*; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D010455:Peptides; C115853:simian immunodeficiency virus gag p55; D007371:Interferon-gamma