Abstract

Efforts to develop an effective vaccine against the hepatitis C virus (HCV; human hepacivirus) have been stymied by a lack of small animal models. Here, we describe an experimental rat model of chronic HCV-related hepacivirus infection and its response to T cell immunization. Immune-competent rats challenged with a rodent hepacivirus (RHV) develop chronic viremia characterized by expansion of non-functional CD8+ T cells. Single-dose vaccination with a recombinant adenovirus vector expressing hepacivirus non-structural proteins induces effective immunity in majority of rats. Resolution of infection coincides with a vigorous recall of intrahepatic cellular responses. Host selection of viral CD8 escape variants can subvert vaccine-conferred immunity. Transient depletion of CD8+ cells from vaccinated rats prolongs infection, while CD4+ cell depletion results in chronic viremia. These results provide direct evidence that co-operation between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is important for hepacivirus immunity, and that subversion of responses can be prevented by prophylactic vaccination.

Development of a HCV vaccine is hampered by a lack of appropriate small animal models. Here, Hartlage et al. describe a rat model of hepacivirus persistence and show that persistence can be prevented by vaccination with viral non-structural proteins.

Details

Title
Vaccination to prevent T cell subversion can protect against persistent hepacivirus infection
Author
Hartlage, Alex S 1 ; Murthy Satyapramod 2 ; Kumar, Arvind 2 ; Trivedi Sheetal 2 ; Dravid Piyush 2 ; Sharma, Himanshu 2 ; Walker, Christopher M 3 ; Kapoor Amit 3 

 The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Columbus, USA (GRID:grid.240344.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 0392 3476); The Ohio State University, Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus, USA (GRID:grid.261331.4) (ISNI:0000 0001 2285 7943) 
 The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Columbus, USA (GRID:grid.240344.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 0392 3476) 
 The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Vaccines and Immunity, Columbus, USA (GRID:grid.240344.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 0392 3476); The Ohio State University, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus, USA (GRID:grid.261331.4) (ISNI:0000 0001 2285 7943) 
Publication year
2019
Publication date
Dec 2019
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20411723
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2188970987
Copyright
This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.