@article{31cc2130e31611ddb5fc000ea68e967b,
title = "MHC-I-restricted epitopes conserved among variola and other related orthopoxviruses are recognized by T cells 30 years after vaccination",
abstract = "It is many years since the general population has been vaccinated against smallpox virus. Here, we report that human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I restricted T cell epitopes can be recognized more than 30 years after vaccination. Using bioinformatic methods, we predicted 177 potential cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes. Eight epitopes were confirmed to stimulate IFN-gamma release by T cells in smallpox-vaccinated subjects. The epitopes were restricted by five supertypes (HLA-A1, -A2, -A24 -A26 and -B44). Significant T cell responses were detected against 8 of 45 peptides with an HLA class I affinity of K(D) less than or equal to 5 nM, whereas no T cell responses were detected against 60 peptides with an HLA affinity of K(D) more than 5 nM. All epitopes were fully conserved in seven variola, vaccinia and cowpox strains. Knowledge of the long-term response to smallpox vaccination may lead to a better understanding of poxvirus immunity and may aid in the development of new improved vaccines and diagnostic tools.",
author = "Tang, {S T} and M Wang and K Lamberth and M Harndahl and Dziegiel, {M H} and Claesson, {M H} and S Buus and Ole Lund",
note = "Keywords: Adult; Aged; Animals; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopoxvirus; Smallpox Vaccine; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Time Factors",
year = "2008",
doi = "10.1007/s00705-008-0194-7",
language = "English",
volume = "153",
pages = "1833--44",
journal = "Archiv fur die gesamte Virusforschung",
issn = "0304-8608",
publisher = "Springer Wien",
number = "10",
}
