Identification of murine CD8 T cell epitopes in codon-optimized SARS-associated coronavirus spike protein.
Publication Type | Academic Article |
Authors | Zhi Y, Kobinger G, Jordan H, Suchma K, Weiss S, Shen H, Schumer G, Gao G, Boyer J, Crystal R, Wilson J |
Journal | Virology |
Volume | 335 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 34-45 |
Date Published | 04/25/2005 |
ISSN | 0042-6822 |
Keywords | CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Epitope Mapping, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte, Membrane Glycoproteins, Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Viral Envelope Proteins |
Abstract | The causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been identified as a new type of coronavirus, SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). CD8 T cells play an important role in controlling diseases caused by other coronaviruses and in mediating vaccine-induced protective immunity in corresponding animal models. The spike protein, a main surface antigen of SARS-CoV, is one of the most important antigen candidates for vaccine design. Overlapping peptides were used to identify major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted epitopes in mice immunized with vectors encoding codon-optimized SARS-CoV spike protein. CD8 T-cell responses were mapped to two H-2(b)-restricted epitopes (S436-443 and S525-532) and one H-2(d)-restricted epitope (S366-374). The identification of these epitopes will facilitate the evaluation of vaccine strategies in murine models of SARS-CoV infection. Furthermore, codon and promoter optimizations can greatly enhance the overall immunogenicity of spike protein in the context of replication-defective human and simian adenoviral vaccine carriers. The optimized recombinant adenoviral vaccine vectors encoding spike can generate robust antigen-specific cellular immunity in mice and may potentially be useful for control of SARS-CoV infection. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.virol.2005.01.050 |
PubMed ID | 15823604 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC7111773 |