Loss of anti-viral immunity by infection with a virus encoding a cross-reactive pathogenic epitope.

ABSTRACT: T cell cross-reactivity between different strains of the same virus, between different members of the same virus group, and even between unrelated viruses is a common occurrence. We questioned here how an intervening infection with a virus containing a sub-dominant cross-reactive T cell epitope would affect protective immunity to a previously encountered virus. Pichinde virus (PV) and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) encode subdominant cross-reactive NP₂₀₅₋₂₁₂ CD8 T cell epitopes sharing 6 of 8 amino acids, differing only in the MHC anchoring regions. These pMHC epitopes induce cross-reactive but non-identical T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires, and structural studies showed that the differing anchoring amino acids altered the conformation of the MHC landscape presented to the TCR.

SUBMITTER: Chen AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3334890 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature