Induction and displacement of an helix in the 6725 SERA peptide analogue confers protection against P. falciparum malaria.
The protein called serine repeat antigen (SERA) is a Plasmodium falciparum malaria antigen; high activity erythrocyte binding peptides have been identified in this protein. One of these, the 6725 peptide (non-immunogenic and non-protective), was analyzed for immunogenicity and protective activity in Aotus monkeys, together with several of its analogues. These peptides were studied by 1H NMR to try to correlate their structure with their biological function. These peptides showed helical regions having differences in their position, except for randomly structured 6725. It is shown that replacing some amino acids induced immunogenicity and protectivity against experimental malaria and changed their three-dimensional (3D) structure, suggesting that such modifications may allow a better fit with immune system molecules.
Alba
Martha Patricia
MP
Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Cra. 50, No. 26-00, Bogotá, Colombia.
Salazar
Luz Mary
LM
Purmova
Jindra
J
Vanegas
Magnolia
M
Rodriguez
Raul
R
Patarroyo
Manuel Elkin
ME
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D001029:Aotus trivirgatus; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013696:Temperature
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; C057495:serine repeat antigen, Plasmodium