1993/03/19 by Jeffrey B. Ulmer, John Donnelly, Suezanne E. Parker +14 · 5 citations
Medicine · Immunology and Microbiology · #Influenza Virus Research Studies #Immunotherapy and Immune Responses #Immune Cell Function and Interaction
paper · doi:10.1126/science.8456302
openalex publication_date 1993/03/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/26
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for conserved viral antigens can respond to different strains of virus, in contrast to antibodies, which are generally strain-specific. The generation of such CTLs in vivo usually requires endogenous expression of the antigen, as occurs in the case of virus infection. To generate a viral antigen for presentation to the immune system without the limitations of direct peptide delivery or viral vectors, plasmid DNA encoding influenza A nucleoprotein was injected into the quadriceps of BALB/c mice. This resulted in the generation of nucleoprotein-specific CTLs and protection from a subsequent challenge with a heterologous strain of influenza A virus, as measured by decreased viral lung titers, inhibition of mass loss, and increased survival.