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Feline leukaemia virus: protective immunity is mediated by virus‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes
Author(s) -
Flynn J. N.,
Hanlon L.,
Jarrett O.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2567.2000.00089.x
Subject(s) - ctl* , virology , cytotoxic t cell , biology , immunology , virus , antigen , immunity , cats , cellular immunity , vaccination , immune system , medicine , cd8 , in vitro , biochemistry
Summary Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) nucleic acid vaccination of domestic cats affords protection against viraemia and the development of latency without inducing antiviral antibodies. 1 To determine the contribution of cell‐mediated immunity to the control of virus replication and clearance from the host, FeLV‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses were compared in vaccine‐protected, transiently viraemic, and persistently viraemic cats. Vaccinal immunity was associated with the detection of higher levels of virus‐specific effector CTL in the peripheral blood and lymphoid organs to FeLV Gag/Pro and Env antigens than those observed in unvaccinated control, persistently viraemic cats ( P < 0·001). Likewise, higher levels of virus‐specific CTLs were also observed in transiently viraemic cats which recovered following exposure to FeLV. In cats that controlled their infection, recognition of Gag/Pro antigens was significantly higher than the recognition of Env antigens. This is the first report highlighting the very significant role that virus‐specific CTL have in determining the outcome of FeLV infection in either vaccinated cats or cats recovering naturally from FeLV exposure.