Extensive polymorphism and evidence of immune selection in a highly dominant antigen recognized by bovine CD8 T cells specific for Theileria annulata.

ABSTRACT: Although parasite strain-restricted CD8 T cell responses have been described for several protozoa, the precise role of antigenic variability in immunity is poorly understood. The tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria annulata infects leukocytes and causes an acute, often fatal lymphoproliferative disease in cattle. Building on previous evidence of strain-restricted CD8 T cell responses to T. annulata, this study set out to identify and characterize the variability of the target antigens. Three antigens were identified by screening expressed parasite cDNAs with specific CD8 T cell lines. In cattle expressing the A10 class I major histocompatibility complex haplotype, A10-restricted CD8 T cell responses were shown to be focused entirely on a single dominant epitope in one of these antigens

SUBMITTER: MacHugh ND 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3088144 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature