Induction of a cross-reactive CD8(+) T cell response following foot-and-mouth disease virus vaccination

J Virol. 2010 Dec;84(23):12375-84. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01545-10. Epub 2010 Sep 22.

Abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes a highly contagious infection in cloven-hoofed animals. Current inactivated FMDV vaccines generate short-term, serotype-specific protection, mainly through neutralizing antibody. An improved understanding of the mechanisms of protective immunity would aid design of more effective vaccines. We have previously reported the presence of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells in FMDV-vaccinated and -infected cattle. In the current study, we aimed to identify CD8(+) T cell epitopes in FMDV recognized by cattle vaccinated with inactivated FMDV serotype O. Analysis of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing CD8(+) T cells responding to stimulation with FMDV-derived peptides revealed one putative CD8(+) T cell epitope present within the structural protein P1D, comprising residues 795 to 803 of FMDV serotype O UKG/2001. The restricting major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I allele was N*02201, expressed by the A31 haplotype. This epitope induced IFN-γ release, proliferation, and target cell killing by αβ CD8(+) T cells, but not CD4(+) T cells. A protein alignment of representative samples from each of the 7 FMDV serotypes showed that the putative epitope is highly conserved. CD8(+) T cells from FMDV serotype O-vaccinated A31(+) cattle recognized antigen-presenting cells (APCs) loaded with peptides derived from all 7 FMDV serotypes, suggesting that CD8(+) T cells recognizing the defined epitope are cross-reactive to equivalent peptides derived from all of the other FMDV serotypes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / immunology
  • Cattle Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Foot-and-Mouth Disease / immunology
  • Foot-and-Mouth Disease / prevention & control*
  • Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / genetics
  • Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Vaccination / veterinary*

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Interferon-gamma