Activity of glutaraldehyde at low concentrations against capsid proteins of poliovirus type 1 and echovirus type 25.

The activity of glutaraldehyde (GTA) against capsid proteins of poliovirus type 1 and echovirus type 25 was studied to understand the mode of action of this reagent against enteroviruses. The viruses were treated with GTA concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.10%. In the poliovirus particles, high-molecular-weight products were formed by 0.05% GTA, whereas in the echovirus particles, they were formed at 0.005% GTA. These products consist of complexes composed essentially of VP1 and VP3. There seemed to be differences in the composition of the complexes in the two viruses. Cross-linkings between the two polypeptides of the poliovirus capsid may be due to the accessibility to GTA of lysine residues on the loops of VP1 and VP3, which twist out from the surface of the shell.     

Comparative sensitivity of the echovirus type 25 JV-4 prototype strain and two recent isolates to glutaraldehyde at low concentrations.

The sensitivity of two recently isolated antigenic variants of echovirus type 25 (Montpellier 76-1262 and Thionville 86-222) to glutaraldehyde (GTA) at low concentrations was compared with that of the JV-4 prototype strain. The purified viruses were treated under the same conditions with GTA at concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 0.10%. The wild strains exhibited significantly lower sensitivity to GTA than did the prototype strain; with 0.10% GTA, a 2 log10 unit reduction was obtained in 5 min for JV-4 and in 60 and 80 min for Montpellier 76-1262 and Thionville 86-222, respectively. A comparison with previous results obtained with poliovirus type 1 showed that the inactivation rates of echovirus type 25 wild strains were fivefold lower than those of the poliovirus type 1 Sabin strain. The comparative electrophoretic and immunoblot analyses showed differences in the results of GTA binding with capsid proteins of the viruses. Unlike in the poliovirus type 1 Mahoney strain and in the echovirus type 25 JV-4 reference strain, GTA produced only minor intermolecular cross-linkings in the viral particles of the two wild strains of echovirus type 25. Our results suggest that there are both intertypic and intratypic differences in the GTA sensitivities of enterovirus strains. They are of relevance to disinfection procedures in digestive endoscopy and to the choice of the enterovirus strain used for evaluating the efficacy of disinfectants.     

Virucidal efficacy of glutaraldehyde against enteroviruses is related to the location of lysine residues in exposed structures of the VP1 capsid protein

Glutaraldehyde (GTA) is a potent virucidal disinfectant whose exact mode of action against enteroviruses is not understood. Earlier reports showed that GTA reacts preferentially with the VP1 capsid protein of echovirus 25 and poliovirus 1 and that GTA has affinity for exposed lysine residues on proteins. To investigate further the inactivation of enteroviruses by GTA, seven strains were selected on the basis of differences in their overall number and the positions of lysine residues in the amino acid sequences of the VP1 polypeptide. Inactivation kinetics experiments were performed with 0.10% GTA. The viruses grouped into three clusters and exhibited significantly different levels of sensitivity to GTA. The results were analyzed in the light of current knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of enteroviruses and the viral life cycle. The differences observed in sensitivity to GTA were related to the number of lysine residues and their locations in the VP1 protein. The overall findings suggest that the BC and DE loops, which cluster at the fivefold axis of symmetry and are the most exposed on the outer surface of the virions, are primary reactive sites for GTA.     

Virucidal Efficacy of Glutaraldehyde against Enteroviruses Is Related to the Location of Lysine Residues in Exposed Structures of the VP1 Capsid Protein

Glutaraldehyde (GTA) is a potent virucidal disinfectant whose exact mode of action against enteroviruses is not understood. Earlier reports showed that GTA reacts preferentially with the VP1 capsid protein of echovirus 25 and poliovirus 1 and that GTA has affinity for exposed lysine residues on proteins. To investigate further the inactivation of enteroviruses by GTA, seven strains were selected on the basis of differences in their overall number and the positions of lysine residues in the amino acid sequences of the VP1 polypeptide. Inactivation kinetics experiments were performed with 0.10% GTA. The viruses grouped into three clusters and exhibited significantly different levels of sensitivity to GTA. The results were analyzed in the light of current knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of enteroviruses and the viral life cycle. The differences observed in sensitivity to GTA were related to the number of lysine residues and their locations in the VP1 protein. The overall findings suggest that the BC and DE loops, which cluster at the fivefold axis of symmetry and are the most exposed on the outer surface of the virions, are primary reactive sites for GTA.     

Comparative sensitivities of Sabin and Mahoney poliovirus type 1 prototype strains and two recent isolates to low concentrations of glutaraldehyde.

Significant intratypic differences in the glutaraldehyde (GTA) sensitivity of echovirus isolates have been shown. While exploring ways to optimize the study of GTA sensitivity of enteroviruses, we also observed intratypic differences in poliovirus type 1 isolates collected in France. A suspension procedure was used for assessing the virucidal effect of GTA at low concentrations (< or = 0.10%) against purified viruses. Two recent isolates of poliovirus type 1 tested were first fully characterized by the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) test. The RFLP pattern of clinical isolate 5617 was similar to that of poliovirus type 1 LS-c, 2ab (Sabin strain), confirming the vaccine origin of strain 5617. The RFLP pattern of strain 5915 recovered from sewage was different from that of the Mahoney strain, suggesting a genetic variation in this wild isolate. We then analyzed under the same controlled conditions the GTA sensitivities of both isolates and their respective prototype strains. The wild Mahoney and 5915 strains exhibited significantly lower sensitivities to GTA than did the vaccine Sabin and 5617 strains. The inactivation rates of clinical isolates 5617 and 5915 were very similar to those of their corresponding reference Sabin and Mahoney strains. Both the conformational structure of the capsid of each strain and the amino acid constitution of structural polypeptides could be involved in the variations observed. The relevance of our comparative sensitivity studies to standardization of virucidal tests is discussed.     

Myristylation of poliovirus capsid precursor P1 is required for assembly of subviral particles.

The poliovirus capsid precursor polyprotein, P1, is cotranslationally modified by the addition of myristic acid. We have examined the importance of myristylation of the P1 capsid precursor during the poliovirus assembly process by using a recently described recombinant vaccinia virus expression system which allows the independent production of the poliovirus P1 protein and the poliovirus 3CD proteinase (D. C. Ansardi, D. C. Porter, and C. D. Morrow, J. Virol. 65:2088-2092, 1991). We constructed a site-directed mutation in the poliovirus cDNA encoding an alanine at the second amino acid position of P1 in place of the glycine residue required for the myristic acid addition and isolated a recombinant vaccinia virus (VVP1myr-) that expressed a nonmyristylated form of the P1 capsid precursor. The 3CD proteinase expressed by a coinfecting vaccinia virus, VVP3, proteolytically processed the nonmyristylated precursor P1 expressed by VVP1myr-. However, the processed capsid proteins, VP0, VP3, and VP1, did not assemble into 14S or 75S subviral particles, in contrast to the VP0, VP3, and VP1 proteins derived from the myristylated P1 precursor. When cells were coinfected with VVP1myr- and poliovirus type 1, the nonmyristylated P1 precursor expressed by VVP1myr- was processed by 3CD expressed by poliovirus, and the nonmyristylated VP0-VP3-VP1 (VP0-3-1) protomers were incorporated into capsid particles and virions which sedimented through a 30% sucrose cushion. Thus, the nonmyristylated P1 precursor and VP0-3-1 protomers were not excluded from sites of virion assembly, and the assembly defects observed for the nonmyristylated protomers were overcome in the presence of myristylated capsid protomers expressed by poliovirus. We conclude that myristylation of the poliovirus P1 capsid precursor plays an important role during poliovirus assembly by facilitating the appropriate interactions required between 5S protomer subunits to form stable 14S pentamers. The results of these studies demonstrate that the independent expression of the poliovirus P1 and 3CD proteins by using recombinant vaccinia viruses provides a unique experimental tool for analyzing the dynamics of the poliovirus assembly process.     

Mapping of sequences required for mouse neurovirulence of poliovirus type 2 Lansing.

Intracerebral inoculation of mice with poliovirus type 2 Lansing induces a fatal paralysis, while most other poliovirus strains are unable to cause disease in the mouse. To determine the molecular basis for Lansing virus neurovirulence, we determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the Lansing viral genome from cloned cDNA. The deduced amino acid sequence was compared with that of two mouse-avirulent strains. There are 83 amino acid differences between the Lansing and Sabin type 2 strain and 179 differences between the Lansing and Mahoney type 1 strain scattered throughout the genome. To further localize Lansing sequences important for mouse neurovirulence, four intertypic recombinants were isolated by exchanging DNA restriction fragments between the Lansing 2 and Mahoney 1 infectious poliovirus cDNA clones. Plasmids were transfected into HeLa cells, and infectious recombinant viruses were recovered. All four recombinant viruses, which contained the Lansing capsid region and different amounts of the Mahoney genome, were neurovirulent for 18- to 21-day-old Swiss-Webster mice by the intracerebral route. The genome of neurovirulent recombinant PRV5.1 contained only nucleotides 631 to 3413 from Lansing, encoding primarily the viral capsid proteins. Therefore, the ability of Lansing virus to cause paralysis in mice is due to the viral capsid. The Lansing capsid sequence differs from that of the mouse avirulent Sabin 2 strain at 32 of 879 amino acid positions: 1 in VP4, 5 in VP2, 4 in VP3, and 22 in VP1.     

A poliovirus type 1 neutralization epitope is located within amino acid residues 93 to 104 of viral capsid polypeptide VP1.

Using nuclease Bal31, deletions were generated within the poliovirus type 1 cDNA sequences, coding for capsid polypeptide VP1, within plasmid pCW119. The fusion proteins expressed in Escherichia coli by the deleted plasmids reacted with rabbit immune sera directed against poliovirus capsid polypeptide VP1 (alpha VP1 antibodies). They also reacted with a poliovirus type 1 neutralizing monoclonal antibody C3, but reactivity was lost when the deletion extended up to VP1 amino acids 90-104. Computer analysis of the protein revealed a high local density of hydrophilic amino acid residues in the region of VP1 amino acids 93-103. A peptide representing the sequence of this region was chemically synthesized. Once coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, this peptide was specifically immunoprecipitated by C3 antibodies. The peptide also inhibited the neutralization of poliovirus type 1 by C3 antibodies. We thus conclude that the neutralization epitope recognized by C3 is located within the region of amino acids 93-104 of capsid polypeptide VP1.     

Intermediates of adeno-associated virus type 2 assembly: identification of soluble complexes containing Rep and Cap proteins.

The proteins encoded by the adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) rep and cap genes obtained during a productive infection of HeLa cells with AAV-2 and adenovirus type 2 were fractionated according to solubility, cellular localization, and sedimentation properties. The majority of Rep and Cap proteins accumulated in the nucleus, where they distributed into a soluble and an insoluble fraction. Analysis of the soluble nuclear fraction of capsid proteins by sucrose density gradients showed that they formed at least three steady-state pools: a monomer pool sedimenting at about 6S, a pool of oligomeric intermediates sedimenting between 10 and 15S, and a broad pool of assembly products with a peak between 60 and 110S, the known sedimentation positions of empty and full capsids. While the soluble nuclear monomer and oligomer pool contained predominantly only two capsid proteins, the 30 to 180S assembly products contained VP1, VP2, and VP3 in a stoichiometry similar to that of purified virions. They probably represent different intermediates in capsid assembly, DNA encapsidation, and capsid maturation. In contrast, the cytoplasmic fraction of capsid proteins showed a pattern of oligomers continuously increasing in size without a defined peak, suggesting that assembly of 60S particles occurs in the nucleus. Soluble nuclear Rep proteins were distributed over the whole sedimentation range, probably as a result of association with AAV DNA. Subfractions of the Rep proteins with defined sedimentation values were obtained in the soluble nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions. We were able to coimmunoprecipitate capsid proteins sedimenting between 60 and 110S with antibodies against Rep proteins, suggesting that they exist in common complexes possibly involved in AAV DNA packaging. Antibodies against the capsid proteins, however, precipitated Rep78 and Rep68 predominantly with a peak around 30S representing a second complex containing Rep and Cap proteins.     

In vivo proteins of defective interfering particles of poliovirus

DX particles of poliovirus are deletion mutants that do not induce synthesis of capsid proteins or the precursor of capsid proteins (NCVPla) during infection. However, cells infected with DX particles synthesize two proteins, p68 and p25, that are not detected during growth of standard virus, and a protein of 27 000 (p27) which is comparable in molecular weight to VP3. Peptide maps of these proteins were obtained by partial digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and elastase. The peptide map of p68 corresponded approximately 70% with the peptide map of NCVPla, and antiserum against virions reacted with p68. These data suggest that p68 is a large fragment of NCVPla. Digestion of purified structural proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 yielded distinct peptide maps, but p25 was resistant to both V8 protease and elastase and did not react noticeably with anticapsid antibody. Peptide maps obtained for in vivo viral proteins migrating with a molecular weight of 27 000 were complex, indicating the presence of at least two and possibly three proteins. Cells infected with standard gs and gr viruses produced authentic VP3, but cells infected with defective interfering particles did not. However, one gr variant of standard virus contained a mutation in structural protein VP2.     

Poliovirus capsid proteins derived from P1 precursors with glutamine-valine cleavage sites have defects in assembly and RNA encapsidation.

Assembly of poliovirus virions requires proteolytic cleavage of the P1 capsid precursor polyprotein between two separate glutamine-glycine (QG) amino acid pairs by the viral protease 3CD. In this study, we have investigated the effects on P1 polyprotein processing and subsequent assembly of processed capsid proteins caused by substitution of the glycine residue at the individual QG cleavage sites with valine (QG-->QV). P1 cDNAs encoding the valine substitutions were created by site-directed mutagenesis and were recombined into wild-type vaccinia virus to generate recombinant vaccinia viruses which expressed the mutant P1 precursors. The recombinant vaccinia virus-expressed mutant P1 polyproteins were analyzed for proteolytic processing defects in cells coinfected with a recombinant vaccinia virus (VVP3) that expresses the poliovirus 3CD protease and for processing and assembly defects by using a trans complementation system in which P1-expressing recombinant vaccinia viruses provide capsid precursor to a defective poliovirus genome that does not express functional capsid proteins (D. C. Ansardi, D. C. Porter, and C. D. Morrow, J. Virol. 67:3684-3690, 1993). The QV-substituted precursors were proteolytically processed at the altered sites both in cells coinfected with VVP3 and in cells coinfected with defective poliovirus, although the kinetics of cleavage at the altered sites were slower than those of cleavage at the wild-type QG site in the precursor. Completely processed capsid proteins VP0, VP3, and VP1 derived from the mutant precursor containing a valine at the amino terminus of VP3 (VP3-G001V) were unstable and failed to assemble stable subviral structures in cells coinfected with defective poliovirus. In contrast, capsid proteins derived from the P1 precursor with a valine substitution at the amino terminus of VP1 (VP1-G001V) assembled empty capsid particles but were deficient in assembling RNA-containing virions. The assembly characteristics of the VP1-G001V mutant were compared with those of a previously described VP3-VP1 cleavage site mutant (K. Kirkegaard and B. Nelsen, J. Virol. 64:185-194, 1990) which contained a deletion of the first four amino-terminal residues of VP1 (VP1-delta 1-4) and which was reconstructed for our studies into the recombinant vaccinia virus system. Complete proteolytic processing of the VP1-delta 1-4 precursor also occurred more slowly than complete cleavage of the wild-type precursor, and formation of virions was delayed; however, capsid proteins derived from the VP1-G001V mutant assembled RNA-containing virions less efficiently than those derived from the VP1-delta 1-4 precursor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Trypsin sensitivity of the Sabin strain of type 1 poliovirus: cleavage sites in virions and related particles.

Treatment of the Sabin strain of type 1 poliovirus with trypsin produced two stable fragments of capsid protein VP1 which remained associated with the virions. Trypsinized virus was fully infectious and was neutralized by type-specific antisera. The susceptible site in the Sabin 1 strain was between the lysine at position 99 and the asparagine at position 100. A similar tryptic cleavage occurred in the Leon and Sabin strains of type 3 poliovirus, probably at the arginine at position 100, but not in the type 1 Mahoney strain, which lacks a basic residue at either position 99 or position 100. Tryptic treatment of heat-treated virus and 14S assembly intermediates produced unique stable fragments which were different from those produced in virions. The implications of our results for future characterization of the surface structures of these particles and structural rearrangements in the poliovirus capsid are discussed.     

Coinfection with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing poliovirus P1 and P3 proteins results in polyprotein processing and formation of empty capsid structures.

The assembly process of poliovirus occurs via an ordered proteolytic processing of the capsid precursor protein, P1, by the virus-encoded proteinase 3CD. To further delineate this process, we have isolated a recombinant vaccinia virus which expresses, upon infection, the poliovirus P1 capsid precursor polyprotein with an authentic carboxy terminus. Coinfection of HeLa cells with the P1-expressing vaccinia virus and with a second recombinant vaccinia virus which expresses the poliovirus proteinase 3CD resulted in the correct processing of P1 to yield the three individual capsid proteins VP0, VP3, and VP1. When extracts from coinfected cells were fractionated on sucrose density gradients, the VP0, VP3, and VP1 capsid proteins were immunoprecipitated with type 1 poliovirus antisera from fractions corresponding to a sedimentation consistent for poliovirus 75S procapsids. Examination of these fractions by electron microscopy revealed structures which lacked electron-dense cores and which corresponded in size and shape to those expected for poliovirus empty capsids. We conclude that the expression of the two poliovirus proteins P1 and 3CD in coinfected cells is sufficient for the correct processing of the capsid precursor to VP0, VP3, and VP1 as well as for the assembly of poliovirus empty capsid-like structures.     

Structural factors that control conformational transitions and serotype specificity in type 3 poliovirus.

The three-dimensional structure of the Sabin strain of type 3 poliovirus has been determined at 2.4 A resolution. Significant structural differences with the Mahoney strain of type 1 poliovirus are confined to loops and terminal extensions of the capsid proteins, occur in all of the major antigenic sites of the virion and typically involve insertions, deletions or the replacement of prolines. Several newly identified components of the structure participate in assembly-dependent interactions which are relevant to the biologically important processes of viral assembly and uncoating. These include two sites of lipid substitution, two putative nucleotides and a beta sheet formed by the N-termini of capsid proteins VP4 and VP1. The structure provides an explanation for the temperature sensitive phenotype of the P3/Sabin strain. Amino acids that regulate temperature sensitivity in type 3 poliovirus are located in the interfaces between promoters, in the binding site for a lipid substituent and in an assembly-dependent extended beta sheet that stabilizes the association of pentamers. Several lines of evidence indicate that these structural components also control conformational transitions at various stages of the viral life cycle.     

Identification of a T-cell epitope adjacent to neutralization antigenic site 1 of poliovirus type 1.

Proliferative T-cell responses to poliovirus in various strains of mice have been analyzed by using either killed purified virus or capsid protein VP1 synthetic peptides. Following immunization of mice with inactivated poliovirus type 1 (PV1), a specific proliferative response of their lymph node CD4+ T cells was obtained after in vitro stimulation with purified virus. In mice immunized with PV1, PV2, or PV3, a strong cross-reactivity of the T-cell responses was observed after in vitro stimulation with heterologous viruses. By using various strategies, a dominant T-cell epitope was identified in the amino acid 103 to 115 region of capsid polypeptide VP1, close by the C3 neutralization epitope. The T-cell response to VP1 amino acids 103 to 115 is H-2 restricted: H-2d mice are responders, whereas H-2k and H-2b mice do not respond to this T-cell epitope. Immunization of BALB/c (H-2d) mice with the uncoupled p86-115 peptide, which represents VP1 amino acids 86 to 115 and contains both the T-cell epitope and the C3 neutralization epitope, induced poliovirus-specific B- and T-cell responses. Moreover, these mice developed poliovirus neutralizing antibodies.     

Rhodanine resistance and dependence of echovirus 12: a possible consequence of capsid flexibility.

Recombinant viruses of echovirus 12 carrying mutations of a rhodanine-resistant or -dependent variant, were investigated, and five single mutations each inducing a rhodanine-resistant or -dependent phenotype were defined. Four mutations are localized in the capsid protein VP1, and the fifth exchange is in VP4. All original and recombinant viruses were shown to be stabilized by the antiviral drug rhodanine against heat inactivation. Hence, resistant and dependent variants still seem able to bind rhodanine, and apparently none of the exchanges affects the putative drug binding site. We hypothesize that drug resistance and dependence are consequences of an increased flexibility of the virus capsid.     

Characterization of an echovirus type 30 variant isolated from patients with aseptic meningitis

An outbreak of echovirus type 30 infection associated with aseptic meningitis occurred among newborn babies in a hospital neonatal room at Fukui City in 1983. The isolated virus was identified as an antigenic variant of echovirus type 30 by cross-neutralization tests with antisera against the prototype Bastianni strain and the present isolate. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the antigenic determinants responsible for virus neutralization, some of which were type specific and others strain specific, were present on the capsid protein VP1. The current strain was more thermoresistant than the prototype, suggesting some alterations in virus structural proteins.     

Steady-state infection by echovirus 6 associated with nonlytic viral RNA and an unprocessed capsid polypeptide.

We established a human cell line which was persistently infected (PI) by the normally cytolytic echovirus 6. All of the cultured PI cells contained genome-size viral RNA which was synthesized continuously and incorporated into virus particles. This steady-state infection has been maintained for more than 6 years. In contrast to RNA of wild-type echovirus 6, the viral RNA from PI cells was not lytic when transfected into uninfected, susceptible cells. The capsid polypeptides of the virus particles produced during lytic infections were compared with those of virus particles from PI cells. Wild-type virions contained five polypeptides with molecular masses of 31.5, 27, 25.8, 21.2, and 9.5 kilodaltons. Comparison of polypeptide profiles of virions and empty immature capsids along with peptide analyses by immunoblotting and partial proteolysis of isolated viral proteins identified the cleavage products of the 31.5-kilodalton polypeptide (VP0) as the two smaller polypeptides (VP2 and VP4). The virus particles produced by PI cells as well as cellular extracts of PI cells contained only the three largest proteins (VP0, VP1, and VP3), indicating that VP0 was not processed during persistent infection. The lack of VP2 and VP4 in the defective virus particles coincided with their inability to attach to uninfected, susceptible cells. The maintenance of the steady-state infection of echovirus 6 was not dependent upon the release of virus particles from PI cells.     

Host range determinants located on the interior of the poliovirus capsid.

The inability of certain poliovirus strains to infect mice can be overcome by the expression of human poliovirus receptors in mice or by the presence of a particular amino acid sequence of the B-C loop of the viral capsid protein VP1. We have identified changes in an additional capsid structure that permit host-restricted poliovirus strains to infect mice. Variants of the mouse-virulent P2/Lansing strain were constructed containing amino acid changes, deletions and insertions in the B-C loop of VP1. These variants were attenuated in mice, demonstrating the importance of the B-C loop sequence in host range. Passage of two of the B-C loop variants in mice led to the selection of viruses that were substantially more virulent. The increased neurovirulence of these strains was mapped to two different suppressor mutations in the N-terminus of VP1. Whereas the B-C loop of VP1 is highly exposed on the surface of the capsid, near the five-fold axis of symmetry, the suppressor mutations are in the interior of the virion, near the three-fold axis. Introduction of the suppressor mutations into the genome of the mouse-avirulent P1/Mahoney strain resulted in neurovirulent viruses, demonstrating that the P2/Lansing B-C loop sequence is not required to infect mice. Because the internal host range determinants are in a structure known to be important in conformational transitions of the virion, the host range of poliovirus may be determined by the ability of virions to undergo transitions catalyzed by cell receptors.     

Antigenic sequences of poliovirus recognized by T cells: serotype-specific epitopes on VP1 and VP3 and cross-reactive epitopes on VP4 defined by using CD4+ T-cell clones.

A panel of poliovirus-specific murine CD4+ T-cell clones has been established from both BALB/c (H-2d) and CBA (H-2k) mice immunized with Sabin vaccine strains of poliovirus serotype 1, 2, or 3. T-cell clones were found to be either serotype specific or cross-reactive between two or all three serotypes. Specificity analysis against purified poliovirus proteins demonstrated that T-cell clones recognized determinants on the surface capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 and the internal capsid protein VP4. Panels of overlapping synthetic peptides were used to identify eight distinct T-cell epitopes. One type 3-specific T-cell clone recognized an epitope within amino acids 257 and 264 of VP1. Three T-cell epitopes corresponding to residues 14 to 28, 189 to 203, and 196 to 210 were identified on VP3 of poliovirus type 2. The remaining four T-cell epitopes were mapped to an immunodominant region of VP4, encompassed within residues 6 and 35 and recognized by both H-2d and H-2k mice. The epitopes on VP4 were conserved between serotypes, and this may account for the predominantly cross-reactive poliovirus-specific T-cell response observed with polyclonal T-cell populations. In contrast, T-cell clones that recognize epitopes on VP1 or VP3 were largely serotype specific; single or multiple amino acid substitutions were found to be critical for T-cell recognition.