@article{b7833731403945229273a00a43e13a2a,
title = "Evaluating immunogenicity of pathogen-derived T-cell epitopes to design a peptide-based smallpox vaccine",
abstract = "Despite the eradication in 1980, developing safe and effective smallpox vaccines remains an active area of research due to the recent outbreaks and the public health concern that smallpox viruses could be used as bioterrorism weapons. Identifying immunogenic peptides (epitopes) would create a foundation for the development of a robust peptide-based vaccine. We previously identified a library of naturally-processed, human leukocyte antigen class I-presented vaccinia-derived peptides from infected B cells. In the current study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of these T-cell peptides in both transgenic mouse models and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A vaccine based on four selected peptides provided 100% protection against a lethal viral challenge. In addition, responses from memory T cells remained unchanged up to five months. Our results validate a practical approach for identifying and verifying immunogenic peptides for vaccine development and highlight the potential of peptide-based vaccines for various infectious diseases.",
author = "Quach, {Huy Quang} and Ovsyannikova, {Inna G.} and Poland, {Gregory A} and Kennedy, {Richard B.}",
note = "Funding Information: Dr. Poland offers consultative advice to Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Global Services LLC, and is the chair of a Safety Evaluation Committee for novel investigational vaccine trials being conducted by Merck Research Laboratories. Dr. Poland also offers consultative advice on vaccine development to Merck & Co., Medicago, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi Pasteur, Emergent Biosolutions, Dynavax, Genentech, Eli Lilly and Company, Kentucky Bioprocessing Inc, Bavarian Nordic, AstraZeneca, Exelixis, Regeneron, Janssen, Vyriad, Moderna, and Genevant Sciences, Inc. Drs. Poland and Ovsyannikova hold patents related to vaccinia and measles peptide vaccines. Drs. Kennedy, Poland, and Ovsyannikova hold a patent related to vaccinia peptide vaccines. Drs. Poland, Kennedy, and Ovsyannikova have received grant funding from ICW Ventures for preclinical studies on a peptide-based COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Kennedy has received funding from Merck Research Laboratories to study waning immunity to mumps vaccine. These activities have been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and are conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest policies. This research has been reviewed by the Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest Review Board and was conducted in compliance with Mayo Clinic Conflict of Interest policies. Funding Information: We thank Eric Swanson and Whitney Simon for technical assistance with the animal experiments. Funding for this project was provided by the NIH-supported Great Lakes Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases and by Mayo Clinic{\textquoteright}s Discovery Translation Program. Marianne Mallia, ELS, MWC, senior scientific/medical editor, Mayo Clinic, substantively edited the manuscript. The Scientific Publications staff at Mayo Clinic provided proofreading, administrative, and clerical support. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",
year = "2022",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1038/s41598-022-19679-3",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "12",
journal = "Scientific Reports",
issn = "2045-2322",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "1",
}