Virus-specific CTL responses induced by an H-2K(d)-restricted, motif-negative 15-mer peptide from the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus

  • J Gen Virol. 2002 Feb;83(Pt 2):429-438. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-83-2-429.
Shisong Jiang  1 ,  Nicola J Borthwick  1 ,  Paul Morrison  1 ,  George F Gao  2 ,  Michael W Steward  1
Affiliations
  • 1. Immunology Unit, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK1.
  • 2. Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston MA 02115, USA2.
PMID: 11807236 DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-83-2-429
Abstract

We describe 15-mer peptide P8:F92-106 from the F protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that can act as an MHC class I-restricted (H-2K(d)) epitope for RSV-specific CD8(+) CTL. This peptide is interesting because not only is it the first murine CTL epitope to be identified in the F protein but also because it does not contain a known allele-specific motif, as all 15 Amino acids appear to be required for effective presentation to CTL. In in vitro MHC class I refolding experiments, peptide P8:F92-106 induced complex formation with H-2K(d) heavy chains and beta2-microglobulin. Immunization of BALB/c mice with P8:F92-106 resulted in the induction of peptide and RSV-specific CTL responses as well as peptide-specific proliferative responses. Following intranasal challenge with RSV, P8:F92-106-immunized mice showed a significant reduction in viral load in the lungs compared to that seen in unimmunized mice. Furthermore, passive transfer of purified CD8(+) lymphocytes into BALB/c scid mice prior to challenge with RSV also resulted in a reduction in the virus load in lungs of challenged mice. These results indicate the potential of synthetic peptide epitopes for the induction of protective immune responses against RSV Infection.

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