T-cell epitopes within viral polypeptide VP4 of the capsid protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus were analyzed using 15-mer peptides and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from vaccinated outbred pigs. An immunodominant region between VP4 residues 16 and 35 was identified, with peptide residues 20 to 34 (VP4-0) and 21 to 35 (VP4-5) particularly immunostimulatory for PBMC from all of the vaccinated pigs. CD25 upregulation on peptide-stimulated CD4؉ CD8 ؉ cells-dominated by Th memory cells in the pig-and inhibition using anti-major histocompatibility complex class II monoclonal antibodies indicated recognition by Th lymphocytes. VP4-0 immunogenicity was retained in a tandem peptide with the VP1 residue 137 to 156 sequential B-cell epitope. This B-cell site also retained immunogenicity, but evidence is presented that specific antibody induction in vitro required both this and the T-cell site. Heterotypic recognition of the residue 20 to 35 region was also noted. Consequently, the VP4 residue 20 to 35 region is a promiscuous, immunodominant and heterotypic T-cell antigenic site for pigs that is capable of providing help for a B-cell epitope when in tandem, thus extending the possible immunogenic repertoire of peptide vaccines.Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the causative agent of a highly contagious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals that is capable of periodic reintroduction into areas such as Europe, where routine vaccination has been terminated (18). FMDV belongs to the Aphthovirus genus of the family Picornaviridae (27). The virus particle contains a positive-strand RNA molecule within a nonglycosylated icosahedral capsid composed of four viral polypeptides, VP1 to VP4 (2, 31). Vaccination traditionally uses inactivated whole-virus vaccines, the objective being induction of the specific antibody central to protective immune defenses (23). Although recombinant VP1 and peptides containing the VP1 (residues 137 to 156) continuous B-cell epitope or carboxy terminus have been tested (6, 13), these conferred lower protection than wholevirus vaccines (7, 39), primarily due to the absence of T-cell epitopes (11,15).Of the T-helper (Th)-cell epitopes identified on FMDV proteins (9,10,15,16,29,35,40), those conserved among different FMDV strains and recognized by different major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allelic forms would be preferred for vaccine application (31). In this respect, the VP4 structural protein (32) is highly conserved among FMDV serotypes and other picornaviruses (4) and possesses an MHC-promiscuous T-cell site for cattle-with respect to four MHC class II alleles (40). The present study therefore sought to identify T-cell epitopes on VP4 recognized by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from vaccinated pigs. Outbred White Landrace pigs from two litters, 3 to 6 month old, were immunized intramuscularly with an inactivated-virus vaccine made with FMDV strain C1 Oberbayern (C1 Obb) at 2.86 g of 146S antigen per 2-ml dose (this payload has a 50% protective dose [PD 50 ] of 11...