Conserved and novel mouse CD8 T cell epitopes within SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD protein identified following subunit vaccination

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) 2021-05, Vol.206 (11), p.2503-2507
• Main Authors: Davenport, Bennett J., Morrison, Thomas E., Kedl, Ross M., Klarquist, Jared
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100195

The prior existence of human ACE2 protein-expressing mice used to study SARS-CoV and the rapid development of mouse-adapted virus strains, has allowed the study of SARS-CoV-2 in mice, even as we are still learning about its natural pathology in humans. With myriad genetically altered strains on the C57BL/6 background and the abundance of immunological reagents available to interrogate its immune responses, the C57BL/6 mice may provide useful insight into the immunology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. In order to conduct more detailed studies on their T cell responses to vaccines and infection, the epitopes eliciting those responses must be characterized in further detail. Here, we mapped CD8 T cell epitopes within the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in C57BL/6 mice. Our study identified five major CD8 T cell epitopes in immunized C57BL/6 mice, including one, VVLSFELL, presented by H-2K b and common between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.