T cell responses to synthetic peptides of herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein D in naturally infected individuals

• Published in: Archives of virology 1993-01, Vol.130 (1-2), p.187-193
• Main Authors: DAMHOF, R. A, DRIJFHOUT, J. W, SCHEFFER, A. J, WILTERDINK, J. B, WELLING, G. W, WELLING-WESTER, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigenic determinants, haptens, artificial antigens; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Herpes Simplex - immunology; herpes simplex virus 1; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Lymphocyte Activation; Molecular immunology; Peptide Fragments - chemical synthesis; Peptide Fragments - immunology; Peptide Fragments - pharmacology; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; Recombinant Proteins - pharmacology; Reference Values; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Viral Envelope Proteins - immunology; Viral Envelope Proteins - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0304-8608; 1432-8798
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01319007

To locate T cell determinants of glycoprotein D (gD) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), proliferation assays of lymphocytes obtained from 10 healthy HSV-seropositive individuals were performed using 34 overlapping gD peptides as antigens. Despite large differences between individual responses to the peptides both in number of stimulating peptides and gD regions, three regions (1-54, 110-214, and 290-314) induced a response in 50% or more of the HSV-seropositives. T cells were less frequently stimulated by peptides of region 210-294. No correlation was found between serological data and proliferative responses to the peptides. The diversity in T cell response to the peptides suggests a lack of immunodominance, implying that a single peptide/region of gD, or a combination of peptides, will not be sufficient to serve as a basis for a future HSV-1 vaccine.