Identification of T-helper cell epitopes in the hypervariable region of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of rinderpest virus (RPV) in cattle

The proliferative responses to synthetic peptides by lymphocytes derived fr om rinderpest virus (RPV)-infected cattle, the natural host for RPV, were a ssayed by determining [H-3]thymidine incorporation into the DNA. In eight o ut of twelve cattle tested, significant responses were detected to peptides representing amino acids 452-501 in the C-terminal hypervariable region of the virus nucleocapsid (N) protein. It appears that helper T-cell epitope( s) for cattle which can be broadly recognized within an MHC diverse populat ion, exists in this region of the protein. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.