HLA-B*27 subtype specificity determines the targeting of HLA-B*27 restricted HCV-specific CD8+ T cell epitopes

The HLA class I allele B*27 is associated with spontaneous viral clearance in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection. This protective effect of HLA-B*27 is linked to an immunodominant epitope as well as a subdominant epitope, both located in the HCV polymerase NS5B. Viral escape mutations occur consistently in these two epitopes in chronically infected patients and can abolish recognition of these epitopes by CD8+ T cells. Additionally, a third HLA-B*27 epitope has been described that is also located in the NS5B protein (NS5B-2820, ARHTPVNSW). However, neither recognition of NS5B-2820 by CD8+ T cells nor v…