The Nucleoprotein Is Required for Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus-Based Vaccine Vector Immunogenicity.
Recombinant glycoprotein-deficient lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-based vaccine vectors (rLCMV/ΔGP) are potent CD8(+) T cell inducers. To investigate the underlying molecular requirements, we generated a nucleoprotein-deficient vector counterpart (rLCMV/ΔNP). NP but not GP is a minimal trans-acting factor for viral transcription and genome replication. We found that, unlike rLCMV/ΔGP, rLCMV/ΔNP failed to elicit detectable CD8(+) T cell responses unless NP was trans complemented in a transgenic host. Hence, NP-dependent intracellular gene expression is essential for LCMV vector immunogenicity.
Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Stephanie
S
Darbre
Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Susan
S
Johnson
Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Sandra
S
Kallert
Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Paul-Henri
PH
Lambert
Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Claire-Anne
CA
Siegrist
Department of Pathology and Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vaccine Immunology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland Division of Experimental Virology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland daniel.pinschewer@gmx.ch.
Daniel D
DD
Pinschewer
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines