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. 1995 Nov;69(11):7147–7151. doi: 10.1128/jvi.69.11.7147-7151.1995

Emergence of virus escape mutants after immunization with epitope vaccine.

G Weidt 1, W Deppert 1, O Utermöhlen 1, J Heukeshoven 1, F Lehmann-Grube 1
PMCID: PMC189635  PMID: 7474135

Abstract

BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice were immunized with recombinant vaccines consisting of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus CD8+ T-lymphocyte epitopes and a carrier protein. During challenge infection with WE strain lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, mutants with alterations in distinct amino acid residues of the epitopic nonapeptides appeared and multiplied. Splenocytes from WE-infected BALB/c mice lysed cells coated with the WE-type epitope; lysis was considerably less effective when the epitopic nonapeptide with which the syngeneic cells had been sensitized was the mutated form. Neither target was lysed by splenocytes from BALB/c mice infected with the variant virus. Mutants were not detected in F1 hybrid mice immunized with two viral epitopes that were restricted by class I molecules of both parents.

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Selected References

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