response to this epitope is apparently
sufficient to protect mice from MHV-A59 infection as it is the
only identified CD8 T-cell epitope in the MHV-A59 genome
(16). Approximately 12% of the CD8 cells in the CNS of
MHV-A59-infected animals are specific for this epitope (as
measured by an intracellular gamma interferon [IFN-] assay).