biostudies-literatureChen LNational Grant Program on Key Infectious DiseaseInternational Cooperation Project of Guangzhou Science and Technology Program483-495https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6373280biostudies-literatureUnknown164(2)Restoring antiviral immunity is a promising immunotherapeutic approach to the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Dendritic cells play a crucial role in triggering antiviral immunity. In this study, we identified immunodominant epitopes prevalent in CD8⁺ T cell responses. We characterized the hierarchy of HBV epitopes targeted by CD8⁺ T cells following autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cell (moDC) expansion in HBV-infected subjects with distinct disease stages: treatment-naïve (TN group, n = 168), treatment with complete virological response (TR group, n = 72), and resolved HBV infection (RS group, n = 28). T cell responses against 32 HBV epitopes were measured upon moDC expansion. Several subdominant epitopes that triggered HBV-specific CD8<suArchives of virologyA novel T-cell epitope in the transmembrane region of the hepatitis B virus envelope protein responds upon dendritic cell expansion.PMC637328020162016040300212014ZX10002002-002Lai JCao HHuang YZhang YLian YChen LChen YShu XStamataki ZZhang SfalseA novel T-cell epitope in the transmembrane region of the hepatitis B virus envelope protein responds upon dendritic cell expansion.Restoring antiviral immunity is a promising immunotherapeutic approach to the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Dendritic cells play a crucial role in triggering antiviral immunity. In this study, we identified immunodominant epitopes prevalent in CD8⁺ T cell responses. We characterized the hierarchy of HBV epitopes targeted by CD8⁺ T cells following autologous monocyte-derived dendritic cell (moDC) expansion in HBV-infected subjects with distinct disease stages: treatment-naïve (TN group, n = 168), treatment with complete virological response (TR group, n = 72), and resolved HBV infection (RS group, n = 28). T cell responses against 32 HBV epitopes were measured upon moDC expansion. Several subdominant epitopes that triggered HBV-specific CD8<su2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Feb2026-07-16T19:55:15.338Z2026-07-12T03:08:37.932ZS-EPMC63732803041539210.1007/s00705-018-4095-0