Rapid, efficient purification of HSV-specific T-lymphocytes and HSV antigens identified via same

A polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence consisting essentially of amino acids:

• 174-186 or 50-192 of UL7 (SEQ ID NO:
• 7);
• 405-413 or 322-417 of UL25 (SEQ ID NO:
• 8);
• 475-483 or 404-627 of UL26 (SEQ ID NO:
• 9);
• 354-362 or 254-722 of UL46 (SEQ ID NO:
• 10);
• 365-373 or 342-393 of US6 (SEQ ID NO:
• 11);
• or
• 518-526 or 503-545 of US8 (SEQ ID NO:
• 12).

A recombinant virus genetically modified to express an amino acid sequence consisting essentially of:

• 174-186 or 50-192 of UL7 (SEQ ID NO:
• 7);
• 405-413 or 322-417 of UL25 (SEQ ID NO:
• 8);
• 475-483 or 404-627 of UL26 (SEQ ID NO:
• 9);
• 354-362 or 254-722 of UL46 (SEQ ID NO:
• 10);
• 365-373 or 342-393 of US6 (SEQ ID NO:
• 11);
• or
• 518-526 or 503-545 of US8 (SEQ ID NO:
• 12).

A method of producing immune cells directed against HSV comprising contacting an immune cell with an antigen-presenting cell, wherein the antigen-presenting cell is modified to present an epitope included:

• 174-186 or 50-192 of UL7 (SEQ ID NO:
• 7);
• 405-413 or 322-417 of UL25 (SEQ ID NO:
• 8);
• 475-483 or 404-627 of UL26 (SEQ ID NO:
• 9);
• 354-362 or 254-722 of UL46 (SEQ ID NO:
• 10);
• 365-373 or 342-393 of US6 (SEQ ID NO:
• 11);
• or
• 518-526 or 503-545 of US8 (SEQ ID NO:
• 12).

A method of enriching a population of lymphocytes for T lymphocytes that are specific to a virus that attacks skin comprising:

• (a) obtaining peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a subject infected with the virus that attacks skin;
• (b) isolating lymphocytes from the PBMC of (a) that express cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA);
• and
• (c) isolating CLA-positive lymphocytes from (b) that selectively kill cells infected with the virus that attacks skin;
• whereby the CLA-positive lymphocytes isolated in (c) are the T lymphocytes specific to the virus that attacks skin.