Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Based Vaccines Against Viruses and Virus Induced Tumors

The primary emphasis of my laboratory is directed toward elucidating the role of the immune response to pathogenic and oncogenic DNA tumor viruses. The model system utilizes simian virus 40 (SV40) tumor, or T antigen, a transforming protein, which also provides a target for the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). CTL recognition epitopes on T antigen have been localized using site-specific CTL clones, truncated proteins expressed in mouse cells, and synthetic peptides corresponding to these epitopes. Current studies include determining the contribution of each epitope to generating an effective anti-tumor immune response and elucidating, at the molecular level, events in the processing, presentation by the MHC class I antigen, and recognition of SV40 T antigen epitopes by the T cell receptor of specifically sensitized CTL.

A second area of interest deals with exploring the role of the immune response in resistance of the host to herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections. Emphasis is placed on determining the target protein(s) for CTL and the ability of CTL to suppress HSV pathogenesis.