Tracking epitope-specific antiviral CD4+ T cell responses to a live attenuated vaccine reveals ongoing functional responses

Vaccine. 2009 Dec 9;27(52):7398-401. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.08.081. Epub 2009 Sep 8.

Abstract

There are few studies that have examined the frequencies of epitope-specific CD4(+) T cells following the use of a highly effective vaccine, yet such data would potentially be of value for the development of novel vaccination strategies. In this study we tracked human epitope-specific CD4(+) T cell responses over time after immunisation with a live attenuated varicella zoster virus vaccine by MHC Class II tetrameric complexes and functional assays. We show that the peptide-specific responses reflect those against whole virus antigens, and are similar in both frequency and phenotype to those found in healthy volunteers, despite a highly attenuated and clinically inapparent infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Chickenpox / prevention & control*
  • Chickenpox Vaccine / immunology*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Female
  • HLA-DR Antigens / immunology
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Chickenpox Vaccine
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains
  • HLA-DRB1*15:01 antigen
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Interferon-gamma