Feline leukaemia virus: protective immunity is mediated by virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes |
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| Authors: | Flynn J N Hanlon L Jarrett O |
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| Affiliation: | Retrovirus Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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