The identification of HLA class II-restricted T cell epitopes to vaccinia virus membrane proteins.
Three decades after the eradication of smallpox, the threat of bioterrorism and outbreaks of emerging diseases such as monkeypox have renewed interest in the development of safe and effective next-generation poxvirus vaccines and biodefense research. Current smallpox vaccines contain live virus and are contraindicated for a large percentage of the population. Safer, yet still effective inactivated and subunit vaccines are needed, and epitope identification is an essential step in the development of these subunit vaccines. In this study we focused on 4 vaccinia membrane proteins known to be targeted by humoral responses in vaccinees. In spite of the narrow focus of the study we identified 36T cell epitopes, and provide additional support for the physical linkage between T and B epitopes. This information may prove useful in peptide and protein-based subunit vaccine development as well as in the study of CD4 responses to poxviruses.
Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN 55905, USA. Kennedy.rick@mayo.edu
Richard B
RB
Kennedy
Gregory A
GA
Poland
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003429:Cross Reactions; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012901:Variola virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma