Influence of flanking sequences on the processing and presentation of a CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell epitope delivered by parvovirus-like particles

P. RUEDA; G. MORON; J. SARRASECA; C. LECLERC; J. I. CASAL

SOC GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY

Año: 2004 vol. 85 p. 563 - 563

We have previously developed an antigen-delivery system based on hybrid recombinant porcineparvovirus-like particles (PPV-VLPs) formed by the self-assembly of the VP2 protein of PPVcarrying a foreign epitope at its N terminus. In this study, different constructs were made containinga CD8+ T-cell epitope of chicken ovalbumin (OVA) to analyse the influence of the sequenceinserted into VP2 on the correct processing of VLPs by antigen-presenting cells. We analysed thepresentation of the OVA epitope inserted without flanking sequences or with either differentnatural flanking sequences or with the natural flanking sequences of a CD8+ T-cell epitopefrom the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus nucleoprotein, and as a dimer with or without linkersequences. All constructs were studied in terms of level of expression, assembly of VLPs and abilityto deliver the inserted epitope into the MHC I pathway. The presentation of the