Immunodominant CD8 T cell response to Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) provides one of the most informative systems for a nalysing cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in humans. The viral infection an d its persistence are the results of an alternation of lytic and latent pha ses that are controlled by the immune response. Using a transient COS trans fection assay that permits semi-quantitative estimation of CD8 T cell respo nses against a large number of HLA/viral protein combinations, we analyzed responses to EBV within a large number of polyclonal T cell lines. This all owed a rapid identification of major epitopes and the demonstration that EB V-specific T cells were mainly directed against a restricted set of immunod ominant epitopes, primarily generated during the early lytic cycle. Knowled ge of the antigen specificity of CD8 T cell responses against EBV should he lp generate cytotoxic T cell lines to this herpesvirus, and more generally to study the molecular basis of immunodominance. (C) 2001 Editions scientif iques et medicales Elsevier SAS.