Five new cytotoxic T cell epitopes identified within Epstein-Barr virus

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes are currently being considered for inclusion into subunit vaccines. Here we describe the characterization of five new CTL epitopes within EBV nuclear antigen 3 (EBNA3), confirming EBNA3 as a major target for CTL recognition. Epstei~Barr virus (EBV) is a herpesvirus that infects most of the human population. Following primary infection a lifelong latent infection of B cells is established. When primary infection is delayed until adolescence, as occurs in l0 to 20 % of individuals in Western societies, there is an approximately 50 % chance of developing infectious mononucleosis. There are two EBV types, A and B. The A type appears to predominate in the majority of lymphoid infections of health