T cell response to fibroblast-trophic CMV vaccine in humans

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this project is to determine whether humans vaccinated with a fibroblast-adapted CMV vaccine develop the extraordinary unconventional CD8+ T cell responses that were recently reported by Louis Picker's group in monkeys vaccinated with a fibroblast-adapted rhesus-CMV. These responses covered an extremely broad range of peptides, were promiscuous with respect to MHC isoforms, and many of the CD8+ T cells recognized peptides in the context of MHC class II molecules. Unconventional T cells are not elicited by natural CMV infection in either monkeys or humans, and Hansen et al showed that they were only elicited by fibroblast-adapted CMV, i.e. CMV that lacks the ability to form a pentameric complex of glycoproteins needed for entry into macrophages, endothelial and epithelial cells. Monkey and human immune systems differ in several ways, most dramatically in their MHC genes, which in rhesus macaques are extremely polygenic and polymorphic. It is unknown whether a human fibroblast-adapted CMV vaccine would elicit similarly unconventional responses in humans. To address this question, we will exploit an ongoing clinical study of fibroblast-adapted CMV vaccines based on the Towne and Toledo strains in humans. PBMC will be collected before and at regular intervals after vaccination. Leukopheresis will be performed on subjects who seroconvert to establish a repository of PBMC and enable intensive dissection of the response. T cell responses will be analyzed to determine the specificity of the CD8+ T cell response, the breadth of peptide recognition, and the nature of MHC restriction.