A method to screen T lymphocyte epitopes after oral immunisation of humans: application to cholera toxin B subunit.
The response to oral immunisation of humans with classical biotype cholera toxin B subunit was studied to identify immunodominant T lymphocyte determinants. The in vitro proliferative response to pools of 12-mer peptides and larger peptides used individually was analysed by a novel statistical approach, and identified an immunodominant region in residues 70-79 in immunised subjects, when either pools or individual peptides were employed. In contrast, a patient infected with El Tor biotype had a dominant response to residues 40-60. The statistical software employed in this study may enable efficient screening of antigens for immunodominant T lymphocyte determinants when blood precursor frequencies are low following immunisation, and may therefore be of special relevance to mucosal vaccines.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D002455:Cell Division / Q000276:immunology; D002771:Cholera / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D002772:Cholera Toxin