A dominant Vβ bias in the CTL response after HSV-1 infection is determined by peptide residues predicted to also interact with the TCR β- chain CDR3

Abstract

Many T cell responses are dominated by restricted TCR expression and can range from repeated usage of particular TCR Vβ-and/or Vα-elements, to the preferential usage of both V- and J-elements, often in conjunction with conserved V-D-J or V-J junctional sequences. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for a K(b)-restricted determinant from the herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B (gB) preferentially express a dominant TCRBV10 β-chain with sequence conservation of a tryptophan-glycine located in the V-D junction. Here we have examined whether immunisation of C57BL/6 mice with the gB-peptide can mimic the CTL response seen after HSV1 infection. Immunisation with the gB- peptide resulted in the genera..