title: Identification of T helper cell-recognized epitopes in the chitinase of the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus.
abstract: T helper cell-recognized epitopes were determined in chitinase of Onchocerca volvulus, a vaccine candidate protein. The proliferation of splenic T cells of mice immunized with recombinant protein was tested with a library of chitinase-peptides of 16 amino acids with termini overlapping by 12 amino acids, and a library of "designer peptides", i.e. sequences identified with three epitope-predicting algorithms. Fourteen epitope-bearing stretches were identified with the peptides of the overlapping library. Testing of the designer peptides partially confirmed these data and revealed additional epitopes. Five clusters of epitopes were identified for the creation of peptide or minigene DNA vaccines with good potency and potential range of MHC allele presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Humboldt-University Berlin, Philippstr 13, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drabner
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reineke
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider-Mergener
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucius
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002688:Chitinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D002688:Chitinases