Therapeutic vaccination against the rhesus lymphocryptovirus EBNA-1 homologue, rhEBNA-1, elicits T cell responses to novel epitopes in rhesus macaques

J Virol. 2013 Dec;87(24):13904-10. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01947-13. Epub 2013 Oct 2.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a vaccine/immunotherapy target due to its association with several human malignancies. EBNA-1 is an EBV protein consistently expressed in all EBV-associated cancers. Herein, EBNA-1-specific T cell epitopes were evaluated after AdC-rhEBNA-1 immunizations in chronically lymphocryptovirus-infected rhesus macaques, an EBV infection model. Preexisting rhEBNA-1-specific responses were augmented in 4/12 animals, and new epitopes were recognized in 5/12 animals after vaccinations. This study demonstrated that EBNA-1-specific T cells can be expanded by vaccination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Epitope Mapping
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / chemistry
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / genetics
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / administration & dosage
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / chemistry
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / genetics
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / immunology*
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae Infections / drug therapy
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Lymphocryptovirus / genetics
  • Lymphocryptovirus / immunology*
  • Macaca mulatta* / genetics
  • Macaca mulatta* / immunology
  • Macaca mulatta* / virology
  • Male
  • Primate Diseases / drug therapy
  • Primate Diseases / immunology*
  • Primate Diseases / virology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • Vaccination
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Viral Vaccines / chemistry
  • Viral Vaccines / genetics
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
  • Viral Vaccines
  • EBV-encoded nuclear antigen 1