Abstract
Virus-specific T cells play essential roles in protection against multiple virus infections, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. While SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells have been identified in COVID-19 patients, their role in the protection of SARS-CoV-2-infected mice is not established. Here, using mice sensitized for infection with SARS-CoV-2 by transduction with an adenovirus expressing the human receptor (Ad5-hACE2), we identified SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell epitopes recognized by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Virus-specific T cells were polyfunctional and were able to lyse target cells in vivo. Further, type I interferon pathway was proved to be critical for generating optimal antiviral T cell responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection. T cell vaccination alone partially protected SARS-CoV-2-infected mice from severe disease. In addition, the results demonstrated cross-reactive T cell responses between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, but not MERS-CoV, in mice. Understanding the role of the T cell response will guide immunopathogenesis studies of COVID-19 and vaccine design and validation.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, vaccination, Antiviral, SARS-CoV, SARS-COV-2 infection, Vaccine design, virus, MERS-CoV, type I interferon, Adenovirus, T cell, infections, mice, Immunopathogenesis, pathway, understanding, receptor, in vivo, Critical, T cell epitope, T cell response, CD8+ T cell, COVID-19 patients, severe disease, cross-reactive, target cell, CD4+, while, BALB/c, C57BL/6, Ad5-hACE2, addition, demonstrated, expressing, infection with SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell, 【제목키워드】 mice, T cell response, mapping,