T cell memory response to MPXV infection exhibits greater effector function and migratory potential compared to MVA-BN vaccination
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In 2022, a global mpox outbreak occurred, and remains a concern today. The T cell memory response to MPXV (monkeypox virus) infection has not been fully investigated. In this study, we evaluate this response in convalescent and MVA-BN (Modified Vaccinia Ankara - Bavarian Nordic) vaccinated individuals using VACV-infected cells. Strong CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses are observed, and T cell responses are biased towards viral early expressed proteins. We identify seven immunodominant HLA-A*02:01 restricted MPXV-specific epitopes and focus our detailed phenotypic and scRNAseq analysis on the immunodominant HLA-A*02:01-G5R18-26-specific CD8+ T cell response. While tetramer+CD8+ T cells share similar differentiation and activation phenotypes, T cells from convalescent individuals show greater cytotoxicity, migratory potential to site of infection and TCR clonal expansion. Our data suggest that effective functional profiles of MPXV-specific memory T cells induced by Mpox infection may have an implication on the long-term protective responses to future infection.
Date Issued
2025-05-10
Date Acceptance
2025-04-22
Citation
Nature Communications, 2025, 16
ISSN
2041-1723
Publisher
Nature Portfolio
Start Page
4362
Journal / Book Title
Nature Communications
Volume
16
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Identifier
10.1038/s41467-025-59370-5
Subjects
ISARIC4C Investigators
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Humans
Vaccinia virus
Viral Vaccines
Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
Immunodominant Epitopes
Vaccination
Cell Movement
Immunologic Memory
Adult
Female
Male
Memory T Cells
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
4362
Date Publish Online
2025-05-10