Cytotoxic T cells recognize very early, minor changes in ectromelia virus-infected target cells.

Abstract

Target cells (P-815 mastocytoma cells) infected with ectromelia virus became susceptible to lysis by H-2 compatible specific effector T cells within one hour of exposure of the cells to virus. This is long before viral progeny are produced and shed from the cell. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) profiles of the plasma membranes from infected and uninfected P-815 cells pulsed with 35S-methionine for one or a few hours after infection with virus were very complex and showed no consistent differences. P-815 cells, infected with ectromelia virus in the presence of an inhibitor of protein synthesis, pactamycin, slowly became susceptible to cell mediate lysis when the pactamycin was remov..