The Nucleoprotein Is Required for Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus-Based Vaccine Vector Immunogenicity

Recombinant glycoprotein-deficient lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-based vaccine vectors (rLCMV/ΔGP) are potent CD8 + T cell inducers. To investigate the underlying molecular requirements, we generated a nucleoprotein-deficient vector counterpart (rLCMV/ΔNP). NP but not GP is a minimal trans -acting factor for viral transcription and genome replication. We found that, unlike rLCMV/ΔGP, rLCMV/ΔNP failed to elicit detectable CD8 + T cell...