title: Localization of T and B cell stimulating domains of the immunodominant 33-kDa protein of Onchocerca volvulus (Ov33).
abstract: The localization of T and B cell epitopes on a well characterized 33-kDa protein of the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus (Ov33) was studied using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and sera from a total of 52 onchocerciasis patients with the generalized form of infection. A proportion of the PBMC samples proliferated in response to recombinant Ov33-GST fusion protein and to fusion free Ov33-6xHis. Proliferative responses of patient PBMC to seven truncated Ov33-6xHis polypeptides and to three synthetic peptides revealed at least one major and two minor T cell epitopes in the protein. The dominant T cell stimulating domain was localized between amino acids 113 and 143. ELISA studies with the Ov33-GST fusion protein revealed that patient sera contained Ov33-specific IgG1, IgG4, IgE, and IgM antibodies. Analysis of the IgG4 response with 10 truncated Ov33 polypeptides identified four B cell stimulating domains in the N-terminal, central, and C-terminal region of the molecule. The B cell domain recognized by the majority of sera was localized between amino acids 113 and 143. The data indicate that this region of the protein is the major T and B cell stimulating domain of Ov33 and might be relevant for vaccine development and for improved immunodiagnosis of onchocerciasis.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Molekulare Parasitologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pogonka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brattig
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Nde
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seeber
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Zipfel
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Titanji
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins