Cross-Reactivity to Mutated Viral Immune Targets Can Influence CD8⁺ T Cell Functionality: An Alternative Viral Adaptation Strategy.

ABSTRACT: Loss of T cell immunogenicity due to mutations in virally encoded epitopes is a well-described adaptation strategy to limit host anti-viral immunity. Another described, but less understood, adaptation strategy involves the selection of mutations within epitopes that retain immune recognition, suggesting a benefit for the virus despite continued immune pressure (termed non-classical adaptation). To understand this adaptation strategy, we utilized a single cell transcriptomic approach to identify features of the HIV-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses targeting non-adapted (NAE) and adapted (AE) forms of epitopes containing a non-classical adaptation. T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire and transcriptome were obtained from antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells of chronic (n=7) and acut

SUBMITTER: Currenti J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8577586 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature