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Ad5-nCoV vaccination could induce HLA-E restricted CD8 + T cell responses specific for epitopes on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein
  • +7
  • yuling wang,
  • Lu Yang,
  • Kang Tang,
  • Yusi Zhang,
  • Chunmei Zhang,
  • Yun Zhang,
  • Boquan Jin,
  • Yuan Zhang,
  • Ran Zhuang,
  • Ying Ma
yuling wang
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Lu Yang
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Kang Tang
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Yusi Zhang
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Chunmei Zhang
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Yun Zhang
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Boquan Jin
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Yuan Zhang
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Ran Zhuang
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Ying Ma
Air Force Medical University Department of Immunology
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Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate cellular immune responses induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines immunization in population based on HLA-E-restricted CD8 + T cell epitopes identification. Methods: HLA-E-restricted SARS-CoV-2 CD8 + T cell nonamer peptides were predicted with software. HLA-E-transfected K562 cells binding assay was used to screen for high-affinity peptides. IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay were used to identify HLA-E-restricted epitopes. HLA-E/epitope tetramer was employed to detect the frequencies of epitope-specific CD8 + T cells. Results: Four CD8 + T cell epitopes on spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 restricted by both HLA-E*0101 and E*0103 were identified. HLA-E-restricted epitope specific IFN-γ-secreting CD8 + T cell responses could be detected in individuals vaccinated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Importantly, the frequencies of epitope-specific CD8 + T cell in Ad5-nCoV vaccinated individual were higher than that in individuals vaccinated with recombinant protein or inactivated vaccines. Moreover, frequencies of epitope-specific CD8 + T cells could maintain for at least 120 days after only one dose Ad5-nCoV vaccination. While frequencies of epitope-specific CD8 + T cells decreased in individuals after two doses of Ad5-nCoV vaccination. Conclusions: These findings may contribute to more comprehensive evaluating protective effects of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, meanwhile may provide information to characterize HLA-E-restricted CD8 + T cell immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection.