SARS-CoV-2 mutations affect antigen processing by the proteasome to alter CD8⁺ T cell responses.

ABSTRACT: Mutations within viral epitopes can result in escape from T cells, but the contribution of mutations in flanking regions of epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 has not been investigated. Focusing on two SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein CD8⁺ epitopes, we investigated the contribution of these flanking mutations to proteasomal processing and T cell activation. We found decreased NP_9-17-B*27:05 CD8⁺ T cell responses to the NP-Q7K mutation, likely due to a lack of efficient epitope production by the proteasome, suggesting immune escape caused by this mutation. In contrast, NP-P6L and NP-D103 N/Y mutations flanking the NP_9-17-B*27:05 and NP_105-113-B*07:02 epitopes, respectively, increased CD8⁺ T cell responses associated with enhanced epitope product

SUBMITTER: Wellington D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10570596 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature