Abstract
DNA immunization offers a novel means to induce cellular immunity in a population with a heterogeneous genetic background. An immunorecessive cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitope in influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP), residues 218 to 226, was identified when mice were immunized with a plasmid DNA encoding a full-length mutant NP in which the anchor residues for the immunodominant NP147-155 epitope were altered. Mice immunized with wild-type or mutant NP DNA were protected from lethal cross-strain virus challenge, and the protection could be adoptively transferred by immune splenocytes, indicating the role of cell-mediated immunity in the protection. DNA immunization is capable of eliciting protective cellular immunity against both immunodominant and immunorecessive CTL epitopes in the hierarchy seen with virus infection.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antigens, Viral / genetics
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Antigens, Viral / immunology
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Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
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Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
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Female
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Humans
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Immunity, Cellular
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Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology
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Influenza A virus / immunology*
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Influenza Vaccines / immunology*
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Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Nucleocapsid Proteins
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Nucleoproteins / genetics
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Nucleoproteins / immunology*
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RNA-Binding Proteins*
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
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Vaccination
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Vaccines, DNA / immunology*
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Viral Core Proteins / genetics
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Viral Core Proteins / immunology*
Substances
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Antigens, Viral
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Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
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Immunodominant Epitopes
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Influenza Vaccines
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NP protein, Influenza A virus
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Nucleocapsid Proteins
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Nucleoproteins
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RNA-Binding Proteins
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Vaccines, DNA
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Viral Core Proteins