Abstract
The identification of Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) epitopes that are recognized by T-cells could contribute to the development of potential vaccines and immunotherapies. Here, we identified CD4+ and H-2Kd-restricted CD8+ T-cell epitopes on the glycoprotein Q1 of HHV-6B (BgQ1), which is a unique glycoprotein and essential for HHV-6B viral entry, by using in vivo electroporation with a plasmid DNA encoding BgQ1, overlapping peptides spanning the BgQ1 sequence, ELISPOT assay for quantification of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and computer-based T-cell epitope prediction programs. The CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell epitopes identified in BALB/c mice in this study could be a good animal model system for use in the development of T-cell responses, inducing HHV-6B vaccines or immunotherapies.
Highlights
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), which belongs to the betaherpesvirus subfamily, was first isolated from patients with lymphocytic disorders in 19861
We identified an H-2Kd-restricted CD8+ T-cell epitope on the BgQ1 molecule
Many things are still unknown about the mechanisms of T-cell mediated protection against Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) infection, the necessity of T-cells to control HHV-6B replication is suggested by the higher incidence of persistent HHV-6B viremia in patients without proliferative T-cell responses[27]
Summary
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), which belongs to the betaherpesvirus subfamily, was first isolated from patients with lymphocytic disorders in 19861. Effective immunotherapies based on antibodies, expanded T-cells, or vaccines for controlling HHV-6B infection and reactivation have not been established. Glycoproteins or their complexes on the surface of enveloped viruses play pivotal roles in the viruses’ infectivity. Some studies have identified HHV-6 antigens that are targeted by the CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses[14,15] Most of these focused on functional or positional homologs to known T-cell antigens from human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in chronically infected adults, because HCMV belongs to the same betaherpesvirus subfamily as www.nature.com/scientificreports/. To design vaccines and immunotherapies for HHV-6B infection in humans, a good animal model will be needed to analyze T-cell responses against the HHV-6B antigen. The vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy are significantly enhanced by in vivo electroporation[20]
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