Abstract
There is enormous variability in human immune responses to viral infections. However, the genetic factors that underlie this variability are not well characterized. We used VirScan, a high-throughput viral epitope scanning technology, to analyze the antibody binding specificities of twins and SNP-genotyped individuals. These data were used to estimate the heritability and identify genomic loci associated with antibody epitope selection, response breadth, and the control of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) viral load. We identified 4 epitopes of EBV that were heritably targeted, and at least two EBNA-2 binding specificities that were associated with variants in the MHC class-II locus. We identified an EBV serosignature that predicted viral load in white blood cells and was associated with genetic variants in the MHC class-I locus. Our study provides a new framework for identifying genes important for pathogen immunity, with specific implications for the genetic architecture of EBV humoral responses and the control of viral load.
Competing Interest Statement
H.B.L. is an inventor on a patent describing the VirScan technology, is a founder of Portal Bioscience, Alchemab, and ImmuneID, and serves as an advisor for TScan Therapeutics and CDI Laboratories.
