MHC class I molecules are key in immunity to viral infections as they present viral pep-tides to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. One of the hallmarks of MHC class I genes in outbred populations is their extraordinary polymorphism, yet the significance of this diversity is poorly understood. Cer-tain species with reduced MHC class I diversity, such as the cotton-top tamarin, are more susceptible to fatal virus infections. To explore the relationship between this primate's limited MHC class I diversity and its susceptibility to viruses, we infected five cotton-top tamarins with influenza virus. RESULTS Every tamarin recognized the same immunodominant CTL epitope of the influenza nucleoprotein. This nucleoprotein peptide was bound by Saoe-G*08, an MHC class I molecule ex-pressed by every cotton-top tamarin. Two tamarins also made a subdominant response to an epitope of the matrix (M1) protein. This peptide appeared to be bound by another common MHC class I molecule. With the exception of an additional subdominant response to the polymerase (PB2) protein in one individual, no other influenza-specific CTL responses were detected. In populations or species with limited MHC class I polymorphism like the cotton-top tamarin, a dependence on shared MHC class I molecules may enhance susceptibility to viral infection, since viruses that evade MHC class I-restricted recognition in one individual will likely evade recognition in the majority of individuals. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the cotton-top tamarin's limited MHC class I diversity and its susceptibility to viruses. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Further study possible reason for tamarin's unique susceptibility to viruses. KEY WORDS tamarin, MHC, CTL
Showing the most recent 10 out of 528 publications
