Recombinant Sendai virus induces T cell immunity against respiratory syncytial virus that is protective in the absence of antibodies

Cell Immunol. 2007 Jun;247(2):85-94. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2007.07.005. Epub 2007 Sep 29.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe respiratory disease in infants and a vaccine is highly desirable. The fusion (F) protein of RSV is an important vaccine target, but the contribution of F-specific T cells to successful vaccination remains unclear. We studied the immune response to vaccination of mice with a recombinant Sendai virus expressing RSV F (rSeV F). rSeV F induced protective neutralizing antibody and RSV F-specific CTL responses. T cell immunity was stronger than that induced by recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV F), a well characterized reference vector. Vaccination of antibody-deficient mice showed that vaccine-induced RSV F-specific T cells were sufficient for protective immunity. rSeV F induced T cell immunity in the presence of neutralizing antibodies, which did not impair the vaccine response. Although the F protein only contains a subdominant CTL epitope, vaccination with rSeV F is sufficient to induce protective T cell immunity against RSV in mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Genetic Engineering*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / immunology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / pathology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / immunology*
  • Sendai virus / genetics*
  • Sendai virus / immunology*
  • Solubility
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Fusion Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Viral Fusion Proteins