Characterizing Hepatitis C Virus-Specific CD4⁺ T Cells Following Viral-Vectored Vaccination, Directly Acting Antivirals, and Spontaneous Viral Cure.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Induction of functional helper CD4⁺ T cells is the hallmark of a protective immune response against hepatitis C virus (HCV), associated with spontaneous viral clearance. Heterologous prime/boost viral vectored vaccination has demonstrated induction of broad and polyfunctional HCV-specific CD8⁺ T cells in healthy volunteers; however, much less is known about CD4⁺ T-cell subsets following vaccination.

Approach and results

We analyzed HCV-specific CD4⁺ T-cell populations using major histocompatibility complex class II tetramers in volunteers undergoing HCV vaccination with recombinant HCV adenoviral/modified vaccinia Ankara viral vectors. Peptide-specific T-cell responses were tracked over time, and functional (pro

SUBMITTER: Hartnell F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7610807 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature