Vaccination with a T-cell-priming Gag peptide of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus enhances virus replication transiently in vivo.
CD4+ T cells are involved in several immune response pathways used to control viral infections. In this study, a group of genetically defined goats was immunized with a synthetic peptide known to encompass an immunodominant helper T-cell epitope of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV). Fifty-five days after challenge with the molecularly cloned CAEV strain CO, the vaccinated animals had a higher proviral load than the controls. The measurement of gamma interferon and interleukin-4 gene expression showed that these cytokines were reliable markers of an ongoing immune response but their balance did not account for more or less efficient control of CAEV replication. In contrast, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor appeared to be a key cytokine that might support virus replication in the early phase of infection. The observation of a potential T-cell-mediated enhancement of virus replication supports other recent findings showing that lentivirus-specific T cells can be detrimental to the host, suggesting caution in designing vaccine candidates.
Nenci
Chiara
C
Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Zahno
Marie-Luise
ML
Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Vogt
Hans-Rudolf
HR
Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Obexer-Ruff
Gabriela
G
Institute of Animal Genetics, Nutrition and Housing, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Doherr
Marcus G
MG
Clinical Research, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Zanoni
Reto
R
Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Peterhans
Ernst
E
Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Bertoni
Giuseppe
G
Institute of Veterinary Virology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D016088:Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000821:virology; D006041:Goats; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D014765:Viral Vaccines
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines