Abstract
Although Tat-specific CTL responses are elicited in HIV-infected patients and in non-human primate models, specific CTL epitopes within Tat have not been identified. In this study, we mucosally immunized mice with recombinant, full-length Tat protein or individual Tat-specific, overlapping peptides to map putative H-2d-restricted, Tat-specific CTL epitopes. Standard chromium release assays from splenocytes of immunized animals identified a peptide (QPKTACTNC) capable of inducing Tat-specific CTL responses. This newly-identified epitope lies within a region of low sequence variability among HIV-1 subtypes, suggesting its potential use in a multicomponent AIDS vaccine.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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AIDS Vaccines / administration & dosage
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AIDS Vaccines / immunology*
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Administration, Intranasal
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Bacterial Toxins / immunology
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Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic
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Enterotoxins / immunology
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Epitopes / immunology
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Escherichia coli Proteins*
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Gene Products, tat / chemistry
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Gene Products, tat / immunology*
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HIV Antigens / chemistry
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HIV Antigens / immunology*
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HIV-1 / immunology*
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Lymphocyte Activation
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Peptide Fragments / chemistry
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Peptide Fragments / immunology*
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Recombinant Proteins / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology*
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tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Substances
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AIDS Vaccines
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Bacterial Toxins
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Enterotoxins
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Epitopes
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Escherichia coli Proteins
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Gene Products, tat
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HIV Antigens
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Peptide Fragments
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Recombinant Proteins
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human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat vaccine
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tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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tat peptide (17-25), Human immunodeficiency virus 1
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heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli