Peptide mimotopes of Neisseria meningitidis group B capsular polysaccharide.
The antigenic similarity between Neisseria meningitidis group B (NMGB) capsular polysaccharide (PS) and human polysialic acid (PSA) has hampered the development of a NMGB PS-based vaccine. But the possibility of a safe vaccine based on NMGB PS has been demonstrated by the existence of the NMGB PS-associated nonautoreactive epitope, which is distinct from those present on human PSA. To obtain peptide mimotopes of NMGB PS, we used HmenB3, a protective and nonautoreactive monoclonal antibody, to screen a phage library with 12 amino acids. We obtained 23 phage clones that bound to HmenB3 but not in the presence of E. coli K1 PS [which is alpha(2-8)-linked PSA like NMGB PS]. The clones contained 3 mimotopes and differed from previously described NMGB PS mimotopes. Immunization with a synthetic peptide of one mimotope elicited anti-NMGB antibodies in BALB/c mice. These mimotopes may be useful in the development of group B meningococcal vaccines.
Park
Inho
I
Department of Microbiology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shin chon-dong, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Choi
In-Hong
IH
Kim
Se Jong
SJ
Shin
Jeon-Soo
JS
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial