Viruses exploit different strategies to escape immune surveillance, including the introduction of mutations in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes. The sequence of these epitopes is critical for their binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules and recognition by specific CTLs, both of which interactions may be lost by mutation. Sequence analysis of the nucleoprotein gene of influenza A viruses (H3N2) isolated in The Netherlands from 1989 to 1999 revealed two independent amino acid mutations at the anchor residue of the HLA-B27-specific CTL epitope SRYWAIRTR (383 to 391). A R384K mutation was found in influenza A viruses isolated during the influenza season 1989-1990 but not in subsequent seasons. In the influenza season 1993-1994, a novel mutation in the same CTL epitope at the same position was introduced. This R384G mutation proved to be conserved in all influenza A viruses isolated from 1993 onwards. Both mutations R384K and R384G abrogated MHC class I presentation and allowed escape from recognition by specific CTLs.

doi.org/10.1128/JVI.74.15.6800-6807.2000, hdl.handle.net/1765/54821
Journal of Virology
Department of Virology

Voeten, J. T. M., Bestebroer, T., Nieuwkoop, N., Fouchier, R., Osterhaus, A., & Rimmelzwaan, G. (2000). Antigenic drift in the influenza a virus (H3N2) Nucleoprotein and escape from recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Journal of Virology, 74(15), 6800–6807. doi:10.1128/JVI.74.15.6800-6807.2000