Identification of cross-reactive norovirus CD4+ T cell epitopes

J Virol. 2010 Sep;84(17):8530-8. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00727-10. Epub 2010 Jun 23.

Abstract

Immune responses and the components of protective immunity following norovirus infection in humans are poorly understood. Although antibody responses following norovirus infection have been partially characterized, T cell responses in humans remain largely undefined. In contrast, T cells have been shown to be essential for viral clearance of mouse norovirus (MNV) infection. In this paper, we demonstrate that CD4(+) T cells secrete gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in response to stimulation with MNV virus-like particles (VLPs) after MNV infection, supporting earlier reports for norovirus-infected mice and humans. Utilizing this model, we immunized mice with alphavirus vectors (Venezuelan equine encephalitis [VEE] virus replicon particles [VRPs]) expressing Norwalk virus (NV) or Farmington Hills virus (FH) virus-like particles to evaluate T cell epitopes shared between human norovirus strains. Stimulation of splenocytes from norovirus VRP-immunized mice with overlapping peptides from complete libraries of the NV or FH capsid proteins revealed specific amino acid sequences containing T cell epitopes that were conserved within genoclusters and genogroups. Immunization with heterologous norovirus VRPs resulted in specific cross-reactive IFN-gamma secretion profiles following stimulation with NV and FH peptides in the mouse. Identification of unique strain-specific and cross-reactive epitopes may provide insight into homologous and heterologous T cell-mediated norovirus immunity and provide a platform for the study of norovirus-induced cellular immunity in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Caliciviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology
  • Capsid Proteins / chemistry
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cross Reactions
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / chemistry
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Norovirus / chemistry
  • Norovirus / genetics
  • Norovirus / immunology*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Species Specificity
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology

Substances

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