马传染性贫血病毒非编码区LTR嵌合克隆的生物学特性

将已构建的马传染性贫血病毒LTR强弱毒嵌合克隆衍生毒vLGFD9-12体内接种健康试验马,在150d观察期内,各组试验动物体症均未见异常.血液学分析发现,vLGFD9-12嵌合克隆衍生病毒与亲本弱毒疫苗株的白细胞与血红蛋白含量总体上没有明显的规律性的变化.在动物外周血中均检测到一定的病毒RNA拷贝数,但拷贝数较低.二者在诱导EIAV特异性淋巴细胞增殖功能和特异性细胞毒性杀伤反应中,亦具有相似的变化趋势和效应.本项研究为进一步确定我国马传贫弱毒疫苗株毒力致弱及免疫保护的分子机制奠定了重要的分子生物学基础.     

马传染性贫血病毒基因非编码区LTR嵌合克隆的构建

在已有全长感染性克隆pLGFD3-8和pD70344的基础上,根据马传贫弱毒疫苗致弱过程中不同代次毒株LTR序列的分析,在LTR U3区选取特定的酶切位点对EIAV非编码区LTR基因进行了部分替换.将替换的全基因克隆转染驴胎皮肤细胞(FDD)并以驴白细胞(DL)传代,用逆转录酶活性检测、RT-PCR方法及Real-time RT-PCR验证其感染性.结果发现,其衍生病毒感染上述两种细胞均出现明显的细胞病变;细胞培养上清可检测到RT酶活性和RT-PCR阳性.电镜下可见大量典型的EIAV颗粒.pLGFD9-12嵌合克隆衍生病毒与其父本克隆衍生病毒pLGFD3-8具有相似的复制水平,pLGFD9-12嵌合克隆衍生病毒在DL细胞上复制水平略高于FDD细胞.此结果为进一步深入研究LTR对马传染性贫血病毒复制水平和毒力的影响奠定了基础.     

马传染性贫血病毒基因非编码区LTR嵌合克隆的构建

在已有全长感染性克隆pLGFD3 8 和pD70344 的基础上,根据马传贫弱毒疫苗致弱过程中不同代次毒株LTR序列的分析,在LTR U3区选取特定的酶切位点对EIAV非编码区LTR基因进行了部分替换。将替换的全基因克隆转染驴胎皮肤细胞(FDD)并以驴白细胞(DL)传代,用逆转录酶活性检测、RT PCR方法及Real time RT PCR验证其感染性。结果发现,其衍生病毒感染上述两种细胞均出现明显的细胞病变;细胞培养上清可检测到RT酶活性和RT PCR阳性。电镜下可见大量典型的EIAV颗粒。pLGFD9 12 嵌合克隆衍生病毒与其父本克隆衍生病毒pLGFD3 8具有相似的复制水平,pLGFD9 12嵌合克隆衍生病毒在DL细胞上复制水平略高于FDD细胞。此结果为进一步深入研究LTR对马传染性贫血病毒复制水平和毒力的影响奠定了基础。     

马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株酸性蛋白p9基因的克隆与表达

从感染驴白细胞的马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株前病毒DNA中克隆了编码p9蛋白的基因,并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达。所表达的蛋白是一种可溶性的融合蛋白,其氨基端带有6个组氨酸的标签,因此可以用固定化金属离子亲和层析法在非变性条件下进行纯化。在间接酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和免疫印迹试验中,重组的酸性蛋白p9可与马传贫阳性血清样品发生反应,而与健康马血清无任何反应。这表明该重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性和特异性,可用于马传贫弱毒疫苗株在体内外复制及在接种马体内免疫应答的研究 。     

马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株酸性蛋白p9基因的克隆与表达

从感染驴白细胞的马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗株前病毒DNA中克隆了编码p9蛋白的基因,并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达.所表达的蛋白是一种可溶性的融合蛋白,其氨基端带有6个组氨酸的标签,因此可以用固定化金属离子亲和层析法在非变性条件下进行纯化.在间接酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)和免疫印迹试验中,重组的酸性蛋白p9可与马传贫阳性血清样品发生反应,而与健康马血清无任何反应.这表明该重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性和特异性,可用于马传贫弱毒疫苗株在体内外复制及在接种马体内免疫应答的研究.     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒嵌合感染性克隆的构建和应用

高致病性猪蓝耳病近年来在我国广泛流行,目前尚无高效疫苗用于该病的防制.本研究以PRRSV弱毒感染性克隆-pAPRRS作为主要骨架,将高致病性猪蓝耳病病毒江西分离株(JX143)的主要结构蛋白基因(ORF4-7)以及3'UTR区域替换入pAPPRS相应编码区域,构建了pSX12(ORF4-7-3'UTR)、p5NX12(ORF5-7-3'UTR)以及p56N12(ORF5-6)三个PRRSV全长嵌合克隆.经DNA转染Marc-145细胞后拯救出嵌合病毒,并对拯救病毒进行了病毒生物学特性的分析;选取拯救病毒v56N12(ORF5-6)和vSX12(ORF4-7-3'UTR)免疫29日龄猪进行免疫原性试验,结果表明,以v56N12免疫后抗体水平相对较低,故免疫原性相对较差;而vSX12病毒免疫后14d血清ELISA抗体达到阳性值(IDEXXELISA值s/p>0.4),免疫后28d中和抗体效价从原来的1:5以下上升到1:15以上,说明vSX12具有良好的免疫原性并可进行免疫监测;免疫后28 d以强毒JX143株攻毒,结果vSX12免疫组未见发病,而未免疫攻毒对照组全部发病并有1头死亡,vSX12免疫猪攻毒后病毒血症持续6d后消失.而对照组攻毒后至少持续13 d,说明vSX12可对高致病性猪蓝耳病提供有效的免疫保护.本研究构建的三个嵌合病毒为开发同时抗经典和变异株PRRSV感染的二价疫苗,以及探寻高致病性猪蓝耳病病毒的毒力因子奠定了基础.     

马传染性贫血强/弱毒嵌合病毒的体外构建

马传染性贫血病毒(equine infectious anemia virus,EIAV)引起马传染性贫血(简称马传贫),导致马持续性感染和反复病毒血症[1].EIAV与人免疫缺陷病毒Ⅰ型(HIV-1)同属反转录病毒科慢病毒属,二者有很多相似的特性[2].在反转录病毒前病毒基因组两端含有长末端重复序列(long terminal repeat,LTR).LTR含有真核启动子,其中含有病毒转录调控顺式作用位点,病毒编码的反式作用因子与其结合后可以反式激活基因的表达,对病毒基因的表达和其它生命活动起重要调控作用[3,4].因此,LTR序列的变异可能会引起病毒转录和复制方式的改变,进而引起其细胞嗜性和致病性的改变[5,6].为了探讨LTR在EIAV病毒复制和转录过程中的作用,并进一步研究EIAV的致病和免疫机制,用EIAV强毒L株LTR置换了以前构建的EIAV DLA(弱毒)感染性分子克隆中的LTR,构建了马传贫强/弱毒嵌合分子克隆,并获得了具有感染性的强/弱毒嵌合病毒.     

中国株EIAV S2基因逆向突变感染性克隆的构建及体外感染性评价

以中国株EIAV的驴强毒株EIAVDV115与疫苗株EIAVFDDV15的S2基因变化规律为依据,利用反向遗传技术对EIAV弱毒疫苗株全基因组感染性克隆pFDDV3-8的S2基因区进行逆向突变,构建了含有强毒株EIAVDV115S2基因区内4个稳定点突变的克隆质粒pFDDVS2r1-3-4-5,将该质粒转染FDD后进行体外继代盲传,经RT-PCR、逆转录酶活性、间接免疫荧光等检测后,显示经EIAV克隆质粒pFDDVS2r1-3-4-5转染的FDD盲传3代后,可在转染的FDD细胞培养物的上清液中检测到EIAV逆转录酶活性;该细胞培养物经RT-PCR和间接免疫荧光检测均呈EIAV阳性;在电镜下可观察到典型EIAV粒子。证明已成功拯救经EIAVS2基因逆向突变后的衍生病毒vpFDDVS2r1-3-4-5。比较vpFDDVS2r1-3-4-5衍生病毒与亲本克隆衍生病毒的复制动力学,表明前者的复制比后者略滞后。以上结果提示,对疫苗株S2基因的突变未明显影响EIAV的体外复制。     

马传染性贫血弱毒疫苗株核衣壳蛋白基因的表达与鉴定

从感染驴白细胞的马传染性贫血弱毒疫苗株前病毒DNA中克隆了编码核衣壳蛋白 (pll)的基因 ,在大肠杆菌中得到了表达 ,而表达的蛋白是一种可溶性的融合蛋白 ,其氨基端带有 6个组氨酸的标签 ,因此可以用固定化金属离子亲和层析法在非变性条件下进行纯化。经间接ELISA和免疫印迹试验检测 ,这种表达的融合蛋白可与马传贫阳性血清样品发生反应 ,而与健康马血清无任何反应 ,显示其具有良好的抗原性和特异性 ,可用于马传贫弱毒疫苗株在体内外复制及在接种马体内免疫应答的研究。     

马立克氏病毒meq基因缺失株SC9-1通过自然重组获得meq能力的分析北大核心CSCD

为了探究meq基因缺失的马立克氏病毒疫苗株SC9-1与超强毒株Md5是否能够通过自然重组获得meq基因的能力,将SC9-1疫苗毒和Md5超强毒共同感染鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF),并在CEF上连续传三代,提取单个蚀斑的病毒DNA。同时将Md5超强毒接种免疫过SC9-1疫苗株的SPF鸡,在不同的时间点分离病毒,提取单个蚀斑的病毒DNA。将两种方式获得的病毒DNA进行PCR验证,并将香啤酒重组酶位点(FRT)残留序列克隆测序,比较其同源性。两种方式鉴定的病毒均为SC9-1或是Md5,没有检测到重组病毒,而且FRT残留序列同源性为100%。结果 SC9-1没有从野生毒株Md5获得缺失的meq基因,而且meq基因敲除区具有很好的遗传稳定性。     

马传染性贫血病毒N-连接糖基化回复突变的感染性克隆构建

根据马传贫强毒株EIAV-L和疫苗株EIAV-FDD表面蛋白gp90的N-连接糖基化的变化规律,采用PCR定点突变的方法,对全长感染性克隆pLGFD3-8上的N-连接糖基化的差异区域进行改造后,构建成含有3个N-连接糖基化位点突变的感染性克隆pLGNl91N236N246.将其转染驴胎皮肤细胞(FDD),通过用逆转录酶活性、间接免疫荧光和RT-PCR方法检测而确定其感染性.结果表明,在FDD细胞中盲传三代后,在细胞培养物中可检测到逆转录酶活性,RT-PCR和间接免疫荧光检测均呈阳性,电镜下见到典型的EIAV颗粒.这一结果可能对N-连接糖基化在我国马传贫弱毒疫苗致弱机理的作用研究而奠定良好的基础.     

Gag protein epitopes recognized by CD4(+) T-helper lymphocytes from equine infectious anemia virus-infected carrier horses

Antigen-specific T-helper (Th) lymphocytes are critical for the development of antiviral humoral responses and the expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Identification of relevant Th lymphocyte epitopes remains an important step in the development of an efficacious subunit peptide vaccine against equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a naturally occurring lentivirus of horses. This study describes Th lymphocyte reactivity in EIAV carrier horses to two proteins, p26 and p15, encoded by the relatively conserved EIAV gag gene. Using partially overlapping peptides, multideterminant and possibly promiscuous epitopes were identified within p26. One peptide was identified which reacted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from all five EIAV-infected horses, and three other peptides were identified which reacted with PBMC from four of five EIAV-infected horses. Four additional peptides containing both CTL and Th lymphocyte epitopes were also identified. Multiple epitopes were recognized in a region corresponding to the major homology region of the human immunodeficiency virus, a region with significant sequence similarity to other lentiviruses including simian immunodeficiency virus, puma lentivirus, feline immunodeficiency virus, Jembrana disease virus, visna virus, and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus. PBMC reactivity to p15 peptides from EIAV carrier horses also occurred. Multiple p15 peptides were shown to be reactive, but not all infected horses had Th lymphocytes recognizing p15 epitopes. The identification of peptides reactive with PBMC from outbred horses, some of which encoded both CTL and Th lymphocyte epitopes, should contribute to the design of synthetic peptide or recombinant vector vaccines for EIAV.     

Gag Protein Epitopes Recognized by ELA-A-Restricted Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes from Horses with Long-Term Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Infection

Most equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV)-infected horses have acute clinical disease, but they eventually control the disease and become lifelong carriers. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are considered an important immune component in the control of infections with lentiviruses including EIAV, but definitive evidence for CTL in the control of disease in carrier horses is lacking. By using retroviral vector-transduced target cells expressing different Gag proteins and overlapping synthetic peptides of 16 to 25 amino acids, peptides containing at least 12 Gag CTL epitopes recognized by virus-stimulated PBMC from six long-term EIAV-infected horses were identified. All identified peptides were located within Gag matrix (p15) and capsid (p26) proteins, as no killing of target cells expressing p11 and p9 occurred. Each of the six horses had CTL recognizing at least one Gag epitope, while CTL from one horse recognized at least eight different Gag epitopes. None of the identified peptides were recognized by CTL from all six horses. Two nonamer peptide epitopes were defined from Gag p26; one (18a) was likely restricted by class I equine leukocyte alloantigen A5.1 (ELA-A5.1) molecules, and the other (28b-1) was likely restricted by ELA-A9 molecules. Sensitization of equine kidney target cells for CTLm killing required 10 nM peptide 18a and 1 nM 28b-1. The results demonstrated that diverse CTL responses against Gag epitopes were generated in long-term EIAV-infected horses and indicated that ELA-A class I molecules were responsible for the diversity of CTL epitopes recognized. This information indicates that multiple epitopes or whole proteins will be needed to induce CTL in horses with different ELA-A alleles in order to evaluate their role in controlling EIAV.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) belongs to the Lentivirus genus, which includes human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and several other animal viruses. EIAV causes disease in horses which is characterized by recurrent febrile episodes associated with viremia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia (10). Most infected horses are able to eventually control the disease and become lifelong EIAV carriers (9). The ability of horses to restrict EIAV replication to very low levels and to remain free of clinical disease provides an opportunity to determine the immunologic mechanisms involved in this lentivirus control.Immune responses are required for the termination of the acute viremia during EIAV infection since foals with severe combined immunodeficiency cannot control the initial viremia following EIAV infection, in contrast to normal foals (41). Results suggesting that immune responses are involved in the control of EIAV in carrier horses include the observation that corticosteroid- and cyclophosphamide-treated carrier horses have recurrent viremia and disease (24). Neutralizing antibody can be an important component of the protective immune response against lentiviral infections (12). Type-specific neutralizing antibody appears following the episodes of plasma viremia in EIAV-infected horses (25); however, there is evidence suggesting that the presence of the neutralizing antibody does not necessarily relate to the occurrence and control of viremic episodes (8, 25). Detectable neutralizing antibodies to the variant isolated during a disease episode can appear after the episode is controlled (8). Neutralizing antibody-escape variants are isolated from EIAV carrier horses as early as 5 days after corticosteroid treatment, when the antibody levels have not significantly changed (24). Further, the viremic episode induced by corticosteroid treatment can be terminated before the appearance of neutralizing antibody to the variant causing viremia (24). Other evidence implicating immune responses other than neutralizing antibody in EIAV control includes the following: (i) EIAV carrier horses can resist challenge with a heterologous strain in the absence of detectable neutralizing antibody to the challenge virus (23), and (ii) some horses immunized with an inactivated virus vaccine resist homologous strain challenge without detectable levels of neutralizing antibody but with virus-specific cell-mediated immune responses (17).Accumulating evidence suggests that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) may play an important role in the immune control of diseases caused by HIV-1 and SIV infection (5, 26, 51). CTL appear to be involved in both the clearance of the primary viremia in HIV-1 infection (26) and the prevention of disease progression to AIDS (42). In EIAV infection, the appearance of activated CD8⁺ CTL (effectors) correlated with the control of the initial viremic episodes (33). Although the CTL effectors decline to low levels when plasma viremias become undetectable, a high frequency of memory CTL (CTLm) has been detected in some carrier horses (34), and these CTLm recognize either EIAV Env or Gag/Pr proteins or both (15, 34). Both CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ CTL activities have been detected in some EIAV-infected horses (15), but their roles in disease control are not known.The epitopes recognized by CD8⁺ CTL are usually peptides of 8 to 11 amino acids (aa) presented by MHC class I molecules on the target cell surface. Identifying the CTL epitopes and the MHC class I molecules that restrict responses is necessary in order to determine how CTL are involved in the control of disease and to stimulate CTL by vaccination. However, the occurrence of escape mutants which are no longer recognized by CTL is one of the major difficulties for inducing effective CTL responses against different variants (6). Gag protein epitopes recognized by CTL may be of importance because Gag proteins are relatively conserved among EIAV strains (21, 32, 40, 48). In this study, at least 12 peptides with CTL epitopes were recognized by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from six long-term EIAV-infected horses with different ELA-A alleles. These peptides were identified by using retroviral vectors expressing individual Gag proteins and synthetic overlapping peptides from recognized proteins. We identified two nonamer peptides, one apparently restricted by ELA-A5.1, and another by ELA-A9, molecules.     

Presentation and binding affinity of equine infectious anemia virus CTL envelope and matrix protein epitopes by an expressed equine classical MHC class I molecule

Control of a naturally occurring lentivirus, equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), occurs in most infected horses and involves MHC class I-restricted, virus-specific CTL. Two minimal 12-aa epitopes, Env-RW12 and Gag-GW12, were evaluated for presentation by target cells from horses with an equine lymphocyte Ag-A1 (ELA-A1) haplotype. Fifteen of 15 presented Env-RW12 to CTL, whereas 11 of 15 presented Gag-GW12. To determine whether these epitopes were presented by different molecules, MHC class I genes were identified in cDNA clones from Arabian horse A2152, which presented both epitopes. This horse was selected because it is heterozygous for the SCID trait and is used to breed heterozygous females. Offspring with SCID are used as recipients for CTL adoptive transfer, and normal offspring are used for CTL induction. Four classical and three putative nonclassical full-length MHC class I genes were found. Human 721.221 cells transduced with retroviral vectors expressing each gene had equine MHC class I on their surface. Following peptide pulsing, only cells expressing classical MHC class I molecule 7-6 presented Env-RW12 and Gag-GW12 to CTL. Unlabeled peptide inhibition of (125)I-labeled Env-RW12 binding to 7-6-transduced cells demonstrated that Env-RW12 affinity was 15-fold higher than Gag-GW12 affinity. Inhibition with truncated Env-RW12 demonstrated that amino acid positions 1 and 12 were necessary for binding, and single substitutions identified positions 2 and 3 as possible primary anchor residues. Since MHC class I 7-6 presented both epitopes, outbred horses with this allele can be immunized with these epitopes to optimize CTL responses and evaluate their effectiveness against lentiviral challenge.     

Adaptive immunity is the primary force driving selection of equine infectious anemia virus envelope SU variants during acute infection

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus that causes persistent infection in horses. The appearance of antigenically distinct viral variants during recurrent viremic episodes is thought to be due to adaptive immune selection pressure. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated envelope SU cloned sequences from five severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) foals infected with EIAV. Within the SU hypervariable V3 region, 8.5% of the clones had amino acid changes, and 6.4% had amino acid changes within the known cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope Env-RW12. Of all the SU clones, only 3.1% had amino acid changes affecting potential N-linked glycosylation sites. In contrast, a much higher degree of variation was evident in SU sequences obtained from four EIAV-infected immunocompetent foals. Within V3, 68.8% of the clones contained amino acid changes, and 50% of the clones had amino acid changes within the Env-RW12 CTL epitope. Notably, 31.9% of the clones had amino acid changes affecting one or more glycosylation sites. Marked amino acid variation occurred in cloned SU sequences from an immune-reconstituted EIAV-infected SCID foal. Of these clones, 100% had amino acid changes within V3, 100% had amino acid changes within Env-RW12, and 97.5% had amino acid changes affecting glycosylation sites. Analysis of synonymous and nonsynonymous nucleotide substitutions revealed statistically significant differences between SCID and immunocompetent foals and between SCID foals and the reconstituted SCID foal. Interestingly, amino acid selection at one site occurred independently of adaptive immune status. Not only do these data indicate that adaptive immunity primarily drives the selection of EIAV SU variants, but also they demonstrate that other selective forces exist during acute infection.     

Activation of Th1 immunity is a common immune mechanism for the successful treatment of hepatitis B and C: tetramer assay and therapeutic implications

Both chronic hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections respond ineffectively to current antiviral therapies. Recent studies have suggested that treatment outcomes may depend on the development of type 1 T helper (Th1) and Th2 cell responses. Specifically, activation of Th1 immunity may play a major role in successfully treating hepatitis B and C. This model was revisited herein by evaluating immune responses in 36 HBV and 40 HCV patients with or without treatment, in an attempt to find a common immune mechanism for successful treatment. The immune responses in all examined cases were studied by peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation and cytokine responses to viral antigens, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, and tetramer staining of virus-specific CD8+ T cells. The overall results revealed that all responders among both HBV- and HCV-infected cases displayed significantly higher PBMC proliferation to viral antigens with a predominant Th1 cytokine profile. Furthermore, the Th1-dominant responses were associated with significant enhancement of CTL activities and were correlated with ELISPOT data, while non-responders responded more weakly. During therapy, the numbers of tetramer-staining, virus-specific CD8+ T cells showed greater increases in responders than in non-responders (p = 0.001). The frequencies determined by the tetramer assay were approximately 200-fold higher than data estimated by limiting-dilution analysis. In conclusion, activation of Th1 immunity accompanied by enhancement of CTL activity during therapy is a common immune mechanism for successfully treating hepatitis B and C, and therefore may have important therapeutic implications.     

Maturation of the cellular and humoral immune responses to persistent infection in horses by equine infectious anemia virus is a complex and lengthy process.

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) provides a natural model system by which immunological control of lentivirus infections may be studied. To date, no detailed study addressing in parallel both the humoral and cellular immune responses induced in horses upon infection by EIAV has been conducted. Therefore, we initiated the first comprehensive characterization of the cellular and humoral immune responses during clinical progression from chronic disease to inapparent stages of EIAV infection. Using new analyses of antibody avidity and antibody epitope conformation dependence that had not been previously employed in this system, we observed that the humoral immune response to EIAV required a 6- to 8-month period in which to fully mature. During this time frame, EIAV-specific antibody evolved gradually from a population characterized by low-avidity, nonneutralizing, and predominantly linear epitope specificity to an antibody population with an avidity of moderate to high levels, neutralizing activity, and predominantly conformational epitope specificity. Analyses of the cell-mediated immune response to EIAV revealed CD4+ and CD8+ major histocompatibility complex-restricted, EIAV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity apparent within 3 to 4 weeks postinfection, temporally correlating with the resolution of the primary viremia. After resolution of the initial viremia, EIAV-specific CTL activity differed greatly among the experimentally infected ponies, with some animals having readily detectable CTL activity while others had little measurable CTL activity. Thus, in contrast to the initial viremia, it appeared that no single immune parameter correlated with the resolution of further viremic episodes. Instead, immune control of EIAV infection during the clinically inapparent stage of infection appears to rely on a complex combination of immune system mechanisms to suppress viral replication that effectively functions only after the immune system has evolved to a fully mature state 6 to 8 months postinfection. These findings strongly imply the necessity for candidate EIAV and other lentivirus vaccines to achieve this immune system maturation for efficacious immunological control of lentivirus challenge.     

Major histocompatibility complex-restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes from horses with equine infectious anemia virus recognize Env and Gag/PR proteins.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can control some viral infections and may be important in the control of lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Since there is limited evidence for an in vivo role of CTL in control of lentiviruses, dissection of immune mechanisms in animal lentiviral infections may provide needed information. Horses infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) a lentivirus, have acute plasma viremia which is terminated in immunocompetent horses. Viremic episodes may recur, but most horses ultimately control infection and become asymptomatic carriers. To begin dissection of the immune mechanisms involved in EIAV control, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from infected horses were evaluated for CTL to EIAV-infected cells. By using noninfected and EIAV-infected autologous equine kidney (EK) cells in 51Cr-release assays, EIAV-specific cytotoxic activity was detected in unstimulated PBMC from three infected horses. The EIAV-specific cytotoxic activity was major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted, as determined by assaying EIAV-infected heterologous EK targets, and was mediated by CD8+ T lymphocytes, as determined by depleting these cells by a panning procedure with an anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody. MHC-restricted CD8+ CTL in unstimulated PBMC from infected horses caused significant specific lysis of autologous EK cells infected with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing EIAV genes, either env or gag plus 5' pol. The EIAV-specific MHC-restricted CD8+ CTL were detected in two EIAV-infected horses within a few days after plasma viremia occurred and were present after viremia was terminated. The detection of these immune effector cells in EIAV-infected horses permits further studies to determine their in vivo role.