Vaccinia virus-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses target a group of epitopes without a strong immunodominance hierarchy in humans.

ABSTRACT: Immunization with vaccinia virus (VACV) resulted in long-lasting protection against smallpox and successful global eradication of the disease. VACV elicits strong cellular and humoral immune responses. Although neutralizing antibody is essential for protection, cellular immunity seems to be more important for recovery from infection in humans. We analyzed the immunodominance hierarchy of 73 previously identified VACV human CD8(+) T-cell epitopes restricted by HLA-A1, -A2, -A3, -A24, -B7, or -B44 alleles or the alleles belonging to one of these supertypes in 56 donors after primary VACV immunization. With the exception of the responses to HLA-A24 supertype-restricted epitopes, there were no consistent patterns of epitope immunodominance among donors sharing the same HLA alleles or supertype

SUBMITTER: Terajima M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2638498 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature