MEASLES-VIRUS HEMAGGLUTININ INDUCES AN L(D)-RESTRICTED CD8(-LYMPHOCYTE RESPONSE TO 2 SPECIFIC EPITOPES() CYTOTOXIC T)

Balb/c mice (H-2(d)) immunized with a vaccinia virus recombinant expre ssing the measles virus hemagglutinin (MV HA) induced a strong CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response which was Ld-restricted. With re ference to the predictive motif for Ld-restricted epitopes, a number o f nonameric peptides derived from the primary sequence of the MV HA we re tested for their ability to be presented to the CTLs by P815 cells. Two peptides corresponding to amino acids 343-351 and 544-552 of the HA primary sequence sensitized target cells for lysis by the HA-specif ic CTLs. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.