Prediction of an HLA B8-restricted influenza epitope by motif.

Abstract

Alignment of previously identified HLA B8-restricted cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) epitopes revealed a common motif: x, x, K/R, x, R/K, x, W/Y, x, I/L. Of five motif-conforming peptides tested, ELRSRYWAI was found to represent a new epitope from influenza nucleoprotein (NP). High concentrations of some peptides gave cross-reactive stimulation illustrating the requirement to confirm epitope assignment with recombinant vaccinias and highlighting a potential problem of peptide-based CTL vaccines.