The structure of HLA-B8 complexed to an immunodominant viral determinant: Peptide-induced conformational changes and a mode of MHC class I dimerization

Abstract

EBV is a ubiquitous human pathogen that chronically infects up to 90% of the population. Persistent viral infection is characterized by latency and periods of viral replication that are kept in check by a strong antiviral CTL response. Despite the size of the EBV genome, CTL immunity focuses on only a few viral determinants but expands a large primary and memory response toward these epitopes. In unrelated HLA-B8+ individuals, the response to the immunodominant latent Ag FLRGRAYGL from Epstein Barr nuclear Ag 3A is largely comprised of CTL clones with identical conserved αβ TCR structures. To better understand the structural correlates of Ag immunodominance and TCR selection bias, we have so..