title: Identification of novel avian influenza virus derived CD8+ T-cell epitopes.
abstract: Avian influenza virus (AIV) infection is a continuing threat to both humans and poultry. Influenza virus specific CD8+ T cells are associated with protection against homologous and heterologous influenza strains. In contrast to what has been described for humans and mice, knowledge on epitope-specific CD8+ T cells in chickens is limited. Therefore, we set out to identify AIV-specific CD8+ T-cell epitopes. Epitope predictions based on anchor residues resulted in 33 candidate epitopes. MHC I inbred chickens were infected with a low pathogenic AIV strain and sacrificed at 5, 7, 10 and 14 days post infection (dpi). Lymphocytes isolated from lung, spleen and blood were stimulated ex vivo with AIV-specific pooled or individual peptides and the production of IFNγ was determined by ELIspot. This resulted in the identification of 12 MHC B12-restricted, 3 B4-restricted and 1 B19-restricted AIV- specific CD8+ T-cell epitopes. In conclusion, we have identified novel AIV-derived CD8+ T-cell epitopes for several inbred chicken strains. This knowledge can be used to study the role of CD8+ T cells against AIV infection in a natural host for influenza, and may be important for vaccine development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sylvia S N
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Reemers
authors.forename: Daphne A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: van Haarlem
authors.forename: Alice J A M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sijts
authors.forename: Lonneke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vervelde
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000737:chemistry; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000378:metabolism*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000821:virology; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010455:Peptides; D007371:Interferon-gamma