scholarly journals Vaccine-Induced Measles Virus-Specific T Cells Do Not Prevent Infection or Disease but Facilitate Subsequent Clearance of Viral RNA

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Hsuan W. Lin ◽  
Chien-Hsiung Pan ◽  
Robert J. Adams ◽  
Beth L. Laube ◽  
Diane E. Griffin

ABSTRACTInfection with wild-type measles virus (MeV) induces lifelong protection from reinfection, and parenteral delivery of the live attenuated measles vaccine (LAV) also provides protection from measles. The level of neutralizing antibody is a good indicator of protection, but the independent roles of MeV-specific antibody and T cells have not been identified. In this study, macaques immunized with LAV through a nebulizer and a mouthpiece developed MeV-specific T-cell responses but not neutralizing antibodies. Upon challenge with wild-type MeV, these animals developed rashes and viremias similar to those in naive animals but cleared viral RNA from blood 25 to 40 days faster. The nebulizer-immunized animals also had more robust MeV-specific CD4+and CD8+T-cell responses than the naive animals after challenge, characterized by a higher number and better durability of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing cells. Induction of MeV-specific circulating CD4+and CD8+T cells capable of producing multiple cytokines correlated with clearance of viral RNA in the nebulizer-immunized macaques. These studies demonstrated that MeV-specific T-cell immunity alone did not prevent measles, but T-cell priming enhanced the magnitude, durability, and polyfunctionality of MeV-specific T cells after challenge infection and correlated with more rapid clearance of MeV RNA.IMPORTANCEThe components of vaccine-induced immunity necessary for protection from infection and disease have not been clearly identified for most vaccines. Vaccine development usually focuses on induction of antibody, but T-cell-based vaccines are also under development. The live attenuated measles vaccine (LAV) given subcutaneously induces both T cells and neutralizing antibody and provides solid protection from infection. LAV delivered to the upper respiratory tract through a nebulizer and mouthpiece induced a T-cell response but no neutralizing antibody. These T-cell-primed macaques demonstrated no protection from rash or viremia when challenged with wild-type MeV, but viral RNA was cleared more rapidly than in unimmunized animals. Thus, T-cell immunity did not protect from infection or acute disease but facilitated virus clearance during recovery. These studies demonstrate the importance and independent roles of T cells and antibody in protection and recovery from measles.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A574-A574
Author(s):  
Ellen Duong ◽  
Timothy Fessenden ◽  
Arjun Bhutkar ◽  
Stefani Spranger

BackgroundCytotoxic (CD8+) T-cells are required for tumor eradication and durable anti-tumor immunity.1 The induction of tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cells is predominately attributed to a subset of dendritic cells (DC) called Batf3-driven DC1, given their robust ability to cross-present antigens for T-cell priming and their role in effector T-cell recruitment.2–4 Presence of the DC1 signature in tumors correlates with improved survival and response to immunotherapies.5–7 Yet, most tumors with a DC1 infiltrate still progress, suggesting that while DC1 can initiate tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cell responses, they are unable to sustain them. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify and engage additional stimulatory DC subsets to strengthen anti-tumor immunity and boost immunotherapy responses.MethodsTo identify DC subsets that drive poly-functional CD8+ T-cell responses, we compared the DC infiltrate of a spontaneously regressing tumor with a progressing tumor. Multicolor flow immunophenotyping and single-cell RNA-sequencing were used to profile the DC compartment of both tumors. IFNγ-ELISpot was performed on splenocytes to assess for systemic tumor-reactive T-cell responses. Sorted DC subsets from tumors were co-cultured with TCR-transgenic T-cells ex vivo to evaluate their stimulatory capacity. Cross-dressing (in vivo/ex vivo) was assayed by staining for transfer of tumor-derived H-2b MHC complexes to Balb/c DC, which express the H-2d haplotype. Protective systemic immunity was assayed via contralateral flank tumor outgrowth experiments.ResultsRegressor tumors were infiltrated with more cross-presenting DC1 than progressor tumors. However, tumor-reactive CD8+ T-cell responses and tumor control were preserved in Batf3-/- mice lacking DC1, indicating that anti-tumor immune responses could be induced independent of DC1. Through functional assays, we established that anti-tumor immunity against regressor tumors required CD11c+ DC and cGAS/STING-independent type-I-interferon-sensing. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of the immune infiltrate of regressor tumors revealed a novel CD11b+ DC subset expressing an interferon-stimulated gene signature (ISG+ DC). Flow studies demonstrated that ISG+ DC were more enriched in regressor tumors than progressor tumors. We showed that ISG+ DC could activate CD8+ T-cells by cross-dressing with tumor-derived peptide-MHC complexes, thereby bypassing the requirement for cross-presentation to initiate CD8+ T-cell-driven immunity. ISG+ DC highly expressed cytosolic dsRNA sensors (RIG-I/MDA5) and could be therapeutically harnessed by exogenous addition of a dsRNA analog to drive protective CD8+ T-cell responses in DC1-deficient mice.ConclusionsThe DC infiltrate in tumors can dictate the strength of anti-tumor immunity. Harnessing multiple stimulatory DC subsets, such as cross-presenting DC1 and cross-dressing ISG+ DC, provides a therapeutic opportunity to enhance anti-tumor immunity and increase immunotherapy responses.ReferencesFridman WH, et al. The immune contexture in human tumours: impact on clinical outcome. Nature Reviews Cancer 2012;12(4): p. 298–306.Hildner K, et al. Batf3 deficiency reveals a critical role for CD8alpha+ dendritic cells in cytotoxic T cell immunity. Science 2008;322(5904):p. 1097–100.Spranger S, et al. Tumor-Residing Batf3 dendritic cells are required for effector T cell trafficking and adoptive T cell therapy. Cancer Cell 2017;31(5):p. 711–723.e4.Roberts, EW, et al., Critical role for CD103(+)/CD141(+) dendritic cells bearing CCR7 for tumor antigen trafficking and priming of T cell immunity in melanoma. Cancer Cell 2016;30(2): p. 324–336.Broz ML, et al. Dissecting the tumor myeloid compartment reveals rare activating antigen-presenting cells critical for T cell immunity. Cancer Cell 2014;26(5): p. 638–52.Salmon H., et al., Expansion and activation of CD103(+) dendritic cell progenitors at the tumor site enhances tumor responses to therapeutic PD-L1 and BRAF inhibition. Immunity, 2016. 44(4): p. 924–38.Sánchez-Paulete AR, et al., Cancer immunotherapy with immunomodulatory anti-CD137 and Anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies requires BATF3-dependent dendritic cells. Cancer Discov, 2016;6(1):p. 71–9.


Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 706
Author(s):  
Chunmei Fu ◽  
Li Zhou ◽  
Qing-Sheng Mi ◽  
Aimin Jiang

As the sentinels of the immune system, dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in initiating and regulating antigen-specific immune responses. Cross-priming, a process that DCs activate CD8 T cells by cross-presenting exogenous antigens onto their MHCI (Major Histocompatibility Complex class I), plays a critical role in mediating CD8 T cell immunity as well as tolerance. Current DC vaccines have remained largely unsuccessful despite their ability to potentiate both effector and memory CD8 T cell responses. There are two major hurdles for the success of DC-based vaccines: tumor-mediated immunosuppression and the functional limitation of the commonly used monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs). Due to their resistance to tumor-mediated suppression as inert vesicles, DC-derived exosomes (DCexos) have garnered much interest as cell-free therapeutic agents. However, current DCexo clinical trials have shown limited clinical benefits and failed to generate antigen-specific T cell responses. Another exciting development is the use of naturally circulating DCs instead of in vitro cultured DCs, as clinical trials with both human blood cDC2s (type 2 conventional DCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) have shown promising results. pDC vaccines were particularly encouraging, especially in light of promising data from a recent clinical trial using a human pDC cell line, despite pDCs being considered tolerogenic and playing a suppressive role in tumors. However, how pDCs generate anti-tumor CD8 T cell immunity remains poorly understood, thus hindering their clinical advance. Using a pDC-targeted vaccine model, we have recently reported that while pDC-targeted vaccines led to strong cross-priming and durable CD8 T cell immunity, cross-presenting pDCs required cDCs to achieve cross-priming in vivo by transferring antigens to cDCs. Antigen transfer from pDCs to bystander cDCs was mediated by pDC-derived exosomes (pDCexos), which similarly required cDCs for cross-priming of antigen-specific CD8 T cells. pDCexos thus represent a new addition in our arsenal of DC-based cancer vaccines that would potentially combine the advantage of pDCs and DCexos.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Steiner ◽  
Franziska Sotzny ◽  
Sandra Bauer ◽  
Il-Kang Na ◽  
Michael Schmueck-Henneresse ◽  
...  

The inability of patients with CVID to mount specific antibody responses to pathogens has raised concerns on the risk and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but there might be a role for protective T cells in these patients. SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells have been reported for SARS-CoV-2 unexposed healthy individuals. Until now, there is no data on T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection in CVID. This study aimed to evaluate reactive T cells to human endemic corona viruses (HCoV) and to study pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells in unexposed CVID patients. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-229E and –OC43 reactive T cells in response to seven peptide pools, including spike and nucleocapsid (NCAP) proteins, in 11 unexposed CVID, 12 unexposed and 11 post COVID-19 healthy controls (HC). We further characterized reactive T cells by IFNγ, TNFα and IL-2 profiles. SARS-CoV-2 spike-reactive CD4+ T cells were detected in 7 of 11 unexposed CVID patients, albeit with fewer multifunctional (IFNγ/TNFα/IL-2) cells than unexposed HC. CVID patients had no SARS-CoV-2 NCAP reactive CD4+ T cells and less reactive CD8+ cells compared to unexposed HC. We observed a correlation between T cell reactivity against spike of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoVs in unexposed, but not post COVID-19 HC, suggesting cross-reactivity. T cell responses in post COVID-19 HC could be distinguished from unexposed HC by higher frequencies of triple-positive NCAP reactive CD4+ T cells. Taken together, SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells are detectable in unexposed CVID patients albeit with lower recognition frequencies and polyfunctional potential. Frequencies of triple-functional reactive CD4+ cells might provide a marker to distinguish HCoV cross-reactive from SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses. Our data provides evidence, that anti-viral T cell immunity is not relevantly impaired in most CVID patients.


2002 ◽  
Vol 196 (10) ◽  
pp. 1277-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryohei F. Tsuji ◽  
Marian Szczepanik ◽  
Ivana Kawikova ◽  
Vipin Paliwal ◽  
Regis A. Campos ◽  
...  

Contact sensitivity (CS) is a classic example of in vivo T cell immunity in which skin sensitization with reactive hapten leads to immunized T cells, which are then recruited locally to mediate antigen-specific inflammation after subsequent skin challenge. We have previously shown that T cell recruitment in CS is triggered by local activation of complement, which generates C5a that triggers C5a receptors most likely on mast cells. Here, we show that B-1 cell–derived antihapten IgM antibodies generated within 1 day (d) of immunization combine with local challenge antigen to activate complement to recruit the T cells. These findings overturn three widely accepted immune response paradigms by showing that (a) specific IgM antibodies are required to initiate CS, which is a classical model of T cell immunity thought exclusively due to T cells, (b) CS priming induces production of specific IgM antibodies within 1 d, although primary antibody responses typically begin by day 4, and (c) B-1 cells produce the 1-d IgM response to CS priming, although these cells generally are thought to be nonresponsive to antigenic stimulation. Coupled with previous evidence, our findings indicate that the elicitation of CS is initiated by rapidly formed IgM antibodies. The IgM and challenge antigen likely form local complexes that activate complement, generating C5a, leading to local vascular activation to recruit the antigen-primed effector T cells that mediate the CS response.


2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 6223-6232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magali Moretto ◽  
Lori Casciotti ◽  
Brigit Durell ◽  
Imtiaz A. Khan

ABSTRACT Cell-mediated immunity has been reported to play an important role in defense against Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection. Previous studies from our laboratory have underlined the importance of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTL) in survival of mice infected with E. cuniculi. In the present study, immune response against E. cuniculi infection in CD4+T-cell-deficient mice was evaluated. Similar to resistant wild-type animals, CD4−/− mice were able to resolve E. cuniculi infection even at a very high challenge dose (5 × 107 spores/mouse). Tissues from infected CD4−/− mice did not exhibit higher parasite loads in comparison to the parental wild-type mice. Conversely, at day 21 postinfection, susceptible CD8−/− mice had 1014 times more parasites in the liver compared to control wild-type mice. Induction of the CD8+ T-cell response in CD4−/− mice against E. cuniculi infection was studied. Interestingly, a normal antigen-specific CD8+T-cell response to E. cuniculi infection was observed in CD4−/− mice (precursor proliferation frequency, 1/2.5 × 104 versus 1/104 in wild-type controls). Lack of CD4+ T cells did not alter the magnitude of the antigen-specific CTL response (precursor CTL frequency; 1/1.4 × 104 in CD4−/− mice versus 1/3 × 104 in control mice). Adoptive transfer of immune CD8+ T cells from both CD4−/− and wild-type animals prevented the mortality in CD8−/− mice.E. cuniculi infection thus offers an example of an intracellular parasitic infection where CD8+ T-cell immunity can be induced in the absence of CD4+ T cells.


2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 1058-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. H. Flinsenberg ◽  
L. Spel ◽  
M. Jansen ◽  
D. Koning ◽  
C. de Haar ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTReactivation of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is hazardous to patients undergoing allogeneic cord blood transplantation (CBT), lowering survival rates by approximately 25%. While antiviral treatment ameliorates viremia, complete viral control requires CD8+T-cell-driven immunity. Mouse studies suggest that cognate antigen-specific CD4+T-cell licensing of dendritic cells (DCs) is required to generate effective CD8+T-cell responses. For humans, this was not fully understood. We here show that CD4+T cells are essential for licensing of human DCs to generate effector and memory CD8+T-cell immunity against CMV in CBT patients. First, we show in CBT recipients that clonal expansion of CMV-pp65-specific CD4+T cells precedes the rise in CMV-pp65-specific CD8+T cells. Second, the elicitation of CMV-pp65-specific CD8+T cells from rare naive precursors in cord blood requires DC licensing by cognate CMV-pp65-specific CD4+T cells. Finally, also CD8+T-cell memory responses require CD4+T-cell-mediated licensing of DCs in our system, by secretion of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) by pp65-specific CD4+T cells. Together, these data show that human DCs require licensing by cognate antigen-specific CD4+T cells to elicit effective CD8+T-cell-mediated immunity and fight off viral reactivation in CBT patients.IMPORTANCESurvival rates after stem cell transplantation are lowered by 25% when patients undergo reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) that they harbor. Immune protection against CMV is mostly executed by white blood cells called killer T cells. We here show that for generation of optimally protective killer T-cell responses that respond to CMV, the early elicitation of help from a second branch of CMV-directed T cells, called helper T cells, is required.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Percy Knolle ◽  
Nina Körber ◽  
Alina Priller ◽  
Sarah Yazici ◽  
Tanja Bauer ◽  
...  

Abstract Infection with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is controlled by the host´s immune response1-4, but longitudinal follow-up studies of virus-specific immunity to evaluate protection from re-infection are lacking. Here, we report the results from a prospective study that started during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020, where we identified 91 convalescents from mild SARS-CoV-2 infection among 4554 health care workers. We followed the dynamics and magnitude of spike-specific immunity in convalescents during the spontaneous course over ≥ 9 months, after SARS-CoV-2 re-exposure and after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination. Virus-neutralizing antibodies and spike-specific T cell responses with predominance of IL-2-secreting polyfunctional CD4 T cells continuously declined over 9 months, but remained detectable at low levels. After a single vaccination, convalescents simultaneously mounted strong antibody and T cell responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. In naïve individuals, a prime vaccination induced preferentially IL-2-secreting CD4 T cells that preceded production of spike-specific virus-neutralizing antibodies after boost vaccination. Response to vaccination, however, was not homogenous. Compared to four individuals among 455 naïve vaccinees (0.9%), we identified 5/82 (6.1%) convalescents with a delayed response to vaccination. These convalescents had originally developed dysfunctional spike-specific immune responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and required prime and boost vaccination to develop strong spike-specific immunity. Importantly, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in fall/winter of 2021 and prior to vaccination we detected a surge of virus-neutralizing antibodies consistent with re-exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in 6 out of 82 convalescents. The selective increase in virus-neutralizing antibodies occurred without systemic re-activation of spike-specific T cell immunity, whereas a single BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination sufficed to induce strong spike-specific antibody and systemic T cell responses in the same individuals. These results support the notion that BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination synchronizes spike-specific immunity in all convalescents of mild SARS-CoV-2 infection and may provide additional protection from re-infection by inducing more rigorous stimulation of spike-specific T cell immunity than re-exposure with SARS-CoV-2.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 630-630
Author(s):  
Maher K Gandhi ◽  
Rebekah M Brennan ◽  
Leesa Wockner ◽  
Pratip K Chattopadhyay ◽  
Mario Roederer ◽  
...  

Abstract In Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (EBV+ cHL), Hodgkin-Reed Sternberg cell antigen presentation is intact, with viral expression restricted to sub-dominant latent-antigens including LMP1/2A. Large epidemiological studies have reported differential HLA-class I (HLA-I) susceptibility to EBV+ cHL. The functional basis for these observations is unknown. HLA-I molecules present viral peptides for recognition by CD8+ T-cells, and it may be that the relative risk of developing EBV+ cHL is due to HLA-I alleles influencing the magnitude of CD8+ T-cell immunity against relevant EBV-specific antigens. However this remains speculative, with immunological evidence lacking. Several non-HLA-I linked genetic susceptibility loci have been identified, and HLA-I associations may simply represent markers for genes of diverse functions that are in linkage disequilibrium to the HLA-I region. We undertook an Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group study to address this fundamental question, utilizing 4 distinct but complimentary experimental approaches. 1. 9 EBV+ cHL and 11 EBV-ve cHL pre-therapy PBMC samples were tested for ex-vivo IFNγ, TNFα and CD107a CD8+ T-cell immunity, using overlapping LMP1 and LMP2A peptide pools. The non-HRS expressed EBV-lytic protein BZLF1 was a control. Highly stringent FACS gating was used to maximize specificity. Results were interrogated using Profile and SPICE analysis. Interestingly IFNγ, TNFα and CD107 CD8+ T-cell responses in HLA-A*02 EBV+ cHL (but not EBV-ve cHL) patients were greater than non-HLA-A*02 (LMP1 p=0.002; LMP2A p=0.03; combined LMP1/LMP2A p=0.005), whereas BZLF1 was equivalent, indicating that HLA-I provides differential CD8+ T-cell immunity against relevant EBV-latent antigens in EBV+ cHL but not EBV-ve cHL. 2. However, up to 4 different HLA-A/B molecules can potentially present relevant EBV-derived epitopes in each individual, adding a confounding layer of complexity to single allele-based effects. To overcome this and enhance sensitivity, we used the mutant HLA-I 721.221 cell-line (pulsed with LMP2A), transfected with either HLA-A*01, HLA-A*02, HLA-A*03 or HLA-B*08 alleles, as antigen presenting cells to in-vitro expand LMP2A-specific CD8+ T-cells from HLA-A*02 heterozygotes. This found ∼90% of the HLA-I LMP2A response was restricted through HLA-A*02. 3. In contrast to EBV+ cHL, in EBV-post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV+ PTLD) the immunogenic EBNA3A/3B/3C latent-antigens are expressed. We compared HLA-I associations in 110 cHL (35% EBV+ cHL) to 153 PTLD (63% EBV+ PTLD) patients. Using Bonferoni corrected statistics, we confirmed that HLA-A*02 and HLA-A*01 homozygotes had lower and higher susceptibility to EBV+ cHL respectively, and that HLA-B*37 was positively associated. Notably, no HLA-I associations with EBV+ PTLD were found. 4. To investigate the impact of HLA-I on the hierarchy of CD8+ T-cell immunity to sub-dominant (LMP1/2A) and immune-dominant (EBNA3A/3B/3C) EBV-latent proteins, we analysed the diversity of HLA-class I restricted T-cells in 30 healthy EBV+ participants. To supplement 30 ‘defined' (i.e. validated) HLA-I EBV-latent antigen epitopes and expand HLA-I coverage, we identified 31 ‘SYFPEITHI' bioinformatically ‘predicted' peptide epitopes for HLA-A*01, HLA-A*03 or HLA-B*37 restricted EBV-latent antigens. All SYFPEITHI scores were ≥21, and thermal stability circular dichroism analysis (HLA-A*01) or MHC stabilization assays on T2 cells (HLA-A*03) confirmed peptide binding to HLA-I. Ex-vivo CD107 CD8+ T-cell assays for the 61 peptides, found that sub-dominant LMP1/2A-specific peptide responses were largely confined to HLA-A*02 (Fig 1A), whilst immuno-dominant CD8+ T-cell responses were stimulated by peptides presented by numerous HLA-I alleles (Fig 1B). These data combined illustrate that differential HLA-I-associated susceptibility to EBV+ cHL reflects altered EBV latent antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell immune hierarchies. For lymphomas expressing a restricted set of poorly immunogenic proteins, even modest CD8+ T-cell responses against relevant tumor-associated proteins confer protection, with broad implications for EBV-vaccine design. Studies are required to determine if similar mechanisms are applicable to non-lymphoid EBV+ malignancies with restricted latency such as undifferentiated nasopharngeal carcinoma. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zelalem A. Mekonnen ◽  
Branka Grubor-Bauk ◽  
Kieran English ◽  
Preston Leung ◽  
Makutiro G. Masavuli ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant contributor to the global disease burden, and development of an effective vaccine is required to eliminate HCV infections worldwide. CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immunity correlates with viral clearance in primary HCV infection, and intrahepatic CD8+ tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells provide lifelong and rapid protection against hepatotropic pathogens. Consequently, we aimed to develop a vaccine to elicit HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, including CD8+ TRM cells, in the liver, given that HCV primarily infects hepatocytes. To achieve this, we vaccinated wild-type BALB/c mice with a highly immunogenic cytolytic DNA vaccine encoding a model HCV (genotype 3a) nonstructural protein (NS5B) and a mutant perforin (pVAX-NS5B-PRF), as well as a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding NS5B (rAAV-NS5B). A novel fluorescent target array (FTA) was used to map immunodominant CD4+ T helper (TH) cell and cytotoxic CD8+ T cell epitopes of NS5B in vivo, which were subsequently used to design a KdNS5B451-459 tetramer and analyze NS5B-specific T cell responses in vaccinated mice in vivo. The data showed that intradermal prime/boost vaccination with pVAX-NS5B-PRF was effective in eliciting TH and cytotoxic CD8+ T cell responses and intrahepatic CD8+ TRM cells, but a single intravenous dose of hepatotropic rAAV-NS5B was significantly more effective. As a T-cell-based vaccine against HCV should ideally result in localized T cell responses in the liver, this study describes primary observations in the context of HCV vaccination that can be used to achieve this goal. IMPORTANCE There are currently at least 71 million individuals with chronic HCV worldwide and almost two million new infections annually. Although the advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) offers highly effective therapy, considerable remaining challenges argue against reliance on DAAs for HCV elimination, including high drug cost, poorly developed health infrastructure, low screening rates, and significant reinfection rates. Accordingly, development of an effective vaccine is crucial to HCV elimination. An HCV vaccine that elicits T cell immunity in the liver will be highly protective for the following reasons: (i) T cell responses against nonstructural proteins of the virus are associated with clearance of primary infection, and (ii) long-lived liver-resident T cells alone can protect against malaria infection of hepatocytes. Thus, in this study we exploit promising vaccination platforms to highlight strategies that can be used to evoke highly functional and long-lived T cell responses in the liver for protection against HCV.


2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 1811-1818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Li Pira ◽  
Federico Ivaldi ◽  
Chiara Dentone ◽  
Elda Righi ◽  
Valerio Del Bono ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The evaluation of antigen-specific T-cell responses is helpful for both research and clinical settings. Several techniques can enumerate antigen-responsive T cells or measure their products, but they require remarkable amounts of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Since screening numerous antigens or testing samples from pediatric or lymphopenic patients is hampered in clinical practice, we refined a miniaturized, high-throughput assay for T-cell immunity. Antigens and cells in 10-μl volumes were dispensed into 1,536-well culture plates precoated with anti-gamma interferon (anti-IFN-γ) antibodies. After being cultured, the wells were developed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for bound cytokine. Miniaturization and automation allowed quantitation of antigen-specific responses on 104 PBMCs. This method was applied for epitope mapping of mycobacterial antigens and was used in the clinic to evaluate T-cell immunity to relevant opportunistic pathogens by using small blood samples. A comparison with conventional methods showed similar sensitivity. Therefore, current flow cytometric methods that provide information on frequency and phenotype of specific T cells can be complemented by this assay that provides extensive information on cytokine concentrations and profiles and requires 20- to 50-fold fewer PBMCs than other analytical methods.


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