Smallpox, a highly contagious and sometimes lethal disease, is caused by the variola virus. Due to a successful vaccination program conducted worldwide, smallpox was eradicated in 1979. Recent events have raised concerns regarding the possible use of smallpox, as well as new emerging infections such as monkey pox, as bioterrorism agents. Routine immunization against small pox was discontinued during the 1970s and the remaining live vaccinai to be used for immunization does not meet the current safety standards. Furthermore, although this type of immunization was efficacious for extinguishing smallpox, the relevant vaccine antigens capable of expanding appropriated humoral and T cell immune responses are only now beginning to be addressed. Clearly, there is a strong need for the development of better vaccine candidates.

Dr. Pinilla identifies T cell epitopes recognized by vaccinia-immunized donors who are participating in a clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of two different vaccines, namely MVA and Dryvax. Human T cell lines and clones dervided from immunized human donors are being generated. These cell lines and clones will be used to screen combinatorial peptide libraries as well as overlapping panels of peptides of pox virus proteins.

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