Identification of an immunodominant CD4+ T cell epitope in the VP6 protein of rotavirus following intranasal immunization of BALB/c mice.

The only lymphocytes required for protection against fecal rotavirus shedding after intranasal immunization of BALB/c (H-2(d)) mice with a chimeric rotavirus VP6 protein (MBPColon, two colonsVP6) and the mucosal adjuvant LT(R192G) are CD4(+) T cells. The purpose of this study was to identify CD4(+) T cell epitopes within VP6 that might be responsible for this protection. To make this determination, spleen cells obtained from BALB/c mice following intranasal immunization with MBPColon, two colonsVP6/LT(R192G) were stimulated in vitro with either MBPColon, two colonsVP6 or overlapping VP6 peptides containing