Partial protection induced by phage library-selected peptides mimicking epitopes of Schistosoma japonicum.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain peptide mimicking epitopes of Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) through screening of a phage peptide library and to test their potential for induction of protection.


METHODS
S. japonicum infected sera from Microtus fortis (IMFS) and normal sera from Microtus fortis (NMFS) were used respectively to screen a 12-mers random peptide library by testing the reactivity of anti-S. japonicum serum with the phagotopes. After three rounds of biopanning, the pooled phages were used to immunize mice, after which challenge infection was performed.


RESULTS
Of 12 randomly picked clones, 10 clones selected using IMFS and 7 clones selected using NMFS were shown to be antigenic. Significant reduction in adult worms (22.6%) and a high reduction (68.9%) in liver eggs were achieved following immunization with phages screened with IMFS. However, no protection was elicited by those selected with NMFS.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that the phagotopes are both antigenic and immunogenic, suggesting a potential use of phage displayed peptide as novel vaccines against S. japonicum.
Ouyang
Li
L
Department of Pathogen Biology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha 410078, China.
Yi
Xinyuan
X
Zeng
Xianfang
X
Zhou
Jinchun
J
Wang
Qinlin
Q
McReynolds
Larry
L
D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000469:parasitology; D000939:Epitopes; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D019151:Peptide Library; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000276:immunology*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000517:prevention & control; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D019151:Peptide Library; D014612:Vaccines