Induction of T cell response by bluetongue virus core-like particles expressing a T cell epitope of the M1 protein of influenza A virus

A CD4(+) T cell epitope of the influenza virus matrix protein corresponding to the C terminus (QAYQKRMGVQMQRFK) was inserted into the VP7 gene of bluetongue virus (BTV). The chimeric protein was expressed by a dual recombinant Autographa californica polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV), which encodes the two inner capsid proteins VP3 and VP7 of BTV. When Spodoptera frugiperda cells (Sf9 cells) were infected with this recombinant BTV, core-like particles (CLPs) were formed as demonstrated by electron microscopy. To study the immunogenicity of a foreign epitope deprived of its natural flanking sequences in vitro, purified CLPs expressing the T cell epitope were used to stimulate two different MHC class II-restricted CD4(+) human T cell clones. One of these T cell clones, ALF 3.7 was specific for the inserted epitope, whereas the other T cell clone ALF 4.4 recognized shorter derivates of the given epitope. CLPs with the inserted epitope were presented as efficiently as purified influenza virus matrix protein to the clone ALF 3.7, whereas clone ALF 4.4 showed no proliferative response.