Identification of gene sequences and proteins involved in vaccinia virus dominant T cell epitopes
AssigneeUniversity of Massachusetts
InventorsMasanori Terajima, John Cruz, Francis A. Ennis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the identification of gene sequences and proteins involved in vaccinia virus dominant T cell epitopes. Two vaccinia virus CD8+ T cell epitopes restricted by the most common human MHC class I allele, HLA-A0201 have been identified. Both epitopes are highly conserved in vaccinia and variola viruses. The induction of the T cell responses following primary vaccination is demonstrated by the kinetics of epitope specific CD8+ T cells in 3 HLA-A0201 individuals. This information will be useful for the design and analyses of the immunogenicity of experimental vaccinia vaccines, and for basic studies of human T cell memory.
Claims12
A method of identifying T cells in a sample that become activated in the presence of a vaccinia or variola virus that comprises a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is identical or substantially homologous to peptide 74A (SEQ ID NO:
- 1) or peptide 165 (SEQ ID NO:
- 2), comprising contacting the T cells with a peptide selected from the group consisting of peptide 74A (SEQ ID NO:
- 1);
- peptide 165 (SEQ ID NO:
- 2);
- an immunogenic fragment of peptide 74A or peptide 165, wherein the immunogenic fragment maintains the function of peptide 74A or peptide 165 as a CD8 T cell epitope of the vaccinia or variola virus;
- an immunogenic mutant of peptide 74A or peptide 165, wherein the immunogenic mutant maintains the function of peptide 74A or peptide 165 as a CD8 T cell epitope of the vaccinia or variola virus, is the same length as peptide 74A or peptide 165, and 1 to 4 amino acids of peptide 74A or peptide 165 are substituted in the immunogenic mutant;
- and a combination thereof;
- wherein activation of the T cells by the peptide indicates that the T cells become activated in the presence of the vaccinia or variola virus.
A method of determining whether an individual has been infected with a vaccinia or variola virus that comprises a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is identical or substantially homologous to peptide 74A (SEQ ID NO:
- 1) or peptide 165 (SEQ ID NO:
- 2), comprising determining whether the T cells in a sample from the individual become activated in the presence of a peptide selected from the group consisting of peptide 74A (SEQ ID NO:
- 1);
- peptide 165 (SEQ ID NO:
- 2);
- an immunogenic fragment of peptide 74A or peptide 165, wherein the immunogenic fragment maintains the function of peptide 74A or peptide 165 as a CD8 T cell epitope of the vaccinia or variola virus;
- an immunogenic mutant of peptide 74A or peptide 165, wherein the immunogenic mutant maintains the function of peptide 74A or peptide 165 as a CD8 T cell epitope of the vaccinia or variola virus, is the same length as peptide 74A or peptide 165, and 1 to 4 amino acids of peptide 74A or peptide 165 are substituted in the immunogenic mutant;
- and a combination thereof;
- wherein if the individual's T cells become activated in the presence of the peptide, then the individual has been infected with the vaccinia or variola virus.
A method of identifying T cells in a sample that become activated in the presence of a vaccinia or variola virus that comprises a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is identical or substantially homologous to peptide 74A (SEQ ID NO:
- 1), comprising contacting the T cells with a peptide selected from the group consisting of peptide 74A (SEQ ID NO:
- 1);
- an immunogenic mutant or fragment of peptide 74A, wherein the immunogenic fragment maintains the function of peptide 74A as a CD8 T cell epitope of the vaccinia or variola virus an immunogenic mutant of peptide 74A, wherein the immunogenic mutant maintains the function of peptide 74A as a CD8 T cell epitope of the vaccinia or variola virus, is the same length as peptide 74A, and 1 to 4 amino acids of peptide 74A are substituted in the immunogenic mutant;
- and a combination thereof;
- wherein activation of the T cells by the peptide indicates that the T cells become activated in the presence of the vaccinia or variola virus.
A method of determining whether an individual has been infected with a vaccinia or variola virus that comprises a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence that is identical or substantially homologous to peptide 74A (SEQ ID NO:
- 1), comprising determining whether the T cells in a sample from the individual become activated in the presence of a peptide selected from the group consisting of peptide 74A (SEQ ID 1);
- an immunogenic fragment of peptide 74A, wherein the immunogenic fragment maintains the function of peptide 74A as a CD8 T cell epitope of the vaccinia or variola virus;
- an immunogenic mutant of peptide 74A, wherein the immunogenic mutant maintains the function of peptide 74A as a CD8 T cell epitope of the vaccinia or variola virus, is the same length as peptide 74A and 1 to 4 amino acids of peptide 74A are substituted in the immunogenic mutant;
- and a combination thereof;
- wherein if the individual's T cells become activated in the presence of the peptide, then the individual has been infected with the vaccinia or variola virus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.