Sequence of myosin-crossreactive epitopes of streptococcal M protein.
Group A streptococcal M proteins contain epitopes that crossreact with sarcolemmal membrane proteins of human myocardium and myosin. In the present study, synthetic peptide copies spanning the entire 197-residue pepsin extracted fragment of type 5 M protein were used to localize the myosin-crossreactive epitopes of the molecule. Peptide 84-116 inhibited by 75% the binding of myosin-crossreactive antibodies evoked by pep M5, as determined by ELISA. Immunoblot inhibition studies confirmed that peptide 84-116 almost totally inhibited the binding of pep M5 antibodies to the heavy chain of human cardiac myosin. None of the remaining synthetic peptides, including peptide 1-35, which contains protective epitopes, inhibited antibodies binding to myosin. Two of three rabbits immunized with peptide 84-116 developed low but significant levels of antibodies crossreactive with myosin. Identification of the primary structures containing tissue-crossreactive as opposed to protective epitopes should not only allow the development of safe and effective M protein vaccines, but may also provide insights into the pathogenesis of rheumatic heart disease.
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000276:immunology; D009218:Myosins / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C014689:streptococcal M protein; D009218:Myosins