Abstract
DNA immunization offers a novel means to induce cellular immunity in a population with a heterogeneous genetic background. An immunorecessive cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitope in influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP), residues 218 to 226, was identified when mice were immunized with a plasmid DNA encoding a full-length mutant NP in which the anchor residues for the immunodominant NP147-155 epitope were altered. Mice immunized with wild-type or mutant NP DNA were protected from lethal cross-strain virus challenge, and the protection could be adoptively transferred by immune splenocytes, indicating the role of cell-mediated immunity in the protection. DNA immunization is capable of eliciting protective cellular immunity against both immunodominant and immunorecessive CTL epitopes in the hierarchy seen with virus infection.
MeSH terms
- Animals
- Antigens, Viral / genetics
- Antigens, Viral / immunology
- Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
- Female
- Humans
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology
- Influenza A virus / immunology*
- Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
- Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Nucleocapsid Proteins
- Nucleoproteins / genetics
- Nucleoproteins / immunology*
- RNA-Binding Proteins*
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
- Vaccination
- Vaccines, DNA / immunology*
- Viral Core Proteins / genetics
- Viral Core Proteins / immunology*
Substances
- Antigens, Viral
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
- Immunodominant Epitopes
- Influenza Vaccines
- NP protein, Influenza A virus
- Nucleocapsid Proteins
- Nucleoproteins
- RNA-Binding Proteins
- Vaccines, DNA
- Viral Core Proteins