Identification of T-helper cell epitopes in the hypervariable region of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of rinderpest virus (RPV) in cattle

Abstract

The proliferative responses to synthetic peptides by lymphocytes derived from rinderpest virus (RPV)-infected cattle, the natural host for RPV, were assayed by determining [ 3H]thymidine incorporation into the DNA. In eight out of twelve cattle tested, significant responses were detected to peptides representing amino acids 452–501 in the C-terminal hypervariable region of the virus nucleocapsid (N) protein. It appears that helper T-cell epitope(s) for cattle which can be broadly recognized within an MHC diverse population, exists in this region of the protein.