title: Molecular approaches for the evaluation of immune responses to zona pellucida (ZP) and development of second-generation ZP vaccines.
abstract: It has long been established that there are major variations in both the immunogenicity and antigenicity of native zona pellucida (ZP) proteins. These differences appear to be more pronounced with respect to genetically engineered ZP proteins, which do not have native post-translational modifications (for example glycosylation and sulphation). As the number of animal species that are now included in population management programmes using native porcine zona pellucida (PZP) proteins expands, it is increasingly important to carry out studies to evaluate the immune response variations among different species as well as the individual variation within a species. In an attempt to compare these complex immune responses, we have evaluated antibodies from numerous species immunized with native, genetically engineered ZP and synthetic ZP peptides. Such an immunocontraceptive method could have great potential. These studies are critical not only for the development of predictable immune responses that result in permanent sterilization versus reversible contraceptive effects, but also for predicting which vaccinogens (native ZP protein versus genetically engineered ZP proteins) might have detrimental effects on animal and human populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. bdunbar@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Skinner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs; D015195:Drug Design; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D000882:Haplorhini; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D011155:Population Control; D011817:Rabbits; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D004527:Egg Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins