Establishment of Schistosoma japonicum calpain-specific mouse T cell hybridomas and identification of a T cell epitope that stimulates IFNgamma production.
Calpain is a calcium-dependent cystein protease, and the homologues of schistosome are known as one of vaccine candidate molecules against schistosomiasis. Here, we established two IL-2 producing T cell hybridoma cell lines specific for Schistosoma japonicum calpain, to identify T cell epitope(s) on the molecule. Overlapping 15mer oligopeptides of calpain were synthesized and tested for their stimulatory abilities to the hybridomas. As a result, epitopes recognized by the two hybridoma lines were the same: EQLKIYAQRC. Spleen cells from calpain multiple antigenic peptide (MAP)-immunized BALB/c mice produced IFNgamma upon stimulation with MAP or soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP). The identification of the T cell epitope to stimulate Th1 response will contribute to the proper design of synthetic vaccines, evaluation of their protective potentials and elucidation of protective mechanisms in murine experimental schistosomiasis.
Osada
Yoshio
Y
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Public Health, The University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan. yosada@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Kumagai
Takashi
T
Hato
Mariko
M
Suzuki
Takashi
T
El-Malky
Mohamed
M
Asahi
Hiroko
H
Kanazawa
Tamotsu
T
Ohta
Nobuo
N
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002154:Calpain / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D005260:Female; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002154:Calpain