MHC-I-restricted epitopes conserved among variola and other related orthopoxviruses are recognized by T cells 30 years after vaccination

TY - JOUR

T1 - MHC-I-restricted epitopes conserved among variola and other related orthopoxviruses are recognized by T cells 30 years after vaccination

AU - Tang, S T

AU - Wang, M

AU - Lamberth, K

AU - Harndahl, M

AU - Dziegiel, M H

AU - Claesson, M H

AU - Buus, S

AU - Lund, Ole

N1 - 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

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - 10.1007/s00705-008-0194-7

DO - 10.1007/s00705-008-0194-7

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18797815

SN - 0304-8608

VL - 153

SP - 1833

EP - 1844

JO - Archiv fur die gesamte Virusforschung

JF - Archiv fur die gesamte Virusforschung

IS - 10

ER -