title: Immunogenicity of peptides of measles virus origin and influence of adjuvants.
abstract: Epitope-based peptide antigens have been under development for protection against measles virus. The immunogenicity of five peptides composed of the same B cell epitope (BCE) (H236-250 of the measles virus hemagglutinin), and different T cell epitopes of measles virus fusion protein (F421-435, F256-270, F288-302) and nucleoprotein (NP335-345) was studied in mice (subcutaneous immunisation). The adjuvant effects of peptidoglycan monomer (PGM), Montanide ISA 720 and 206 were also investigated. Results showed basic differences in peptide immunogenicity that were consistent with already described structural differences. PGM elevated peptide-specific IgG when applied together with four of five tested peptides. A strong synergistic effect was observed after co-immunisation of mice with a mixture containing all five chimeric peptides in small and equal amounts. Results revealed for the first time that immunisation with several peptides having the common BCE generated significantly higher levels of both anti-peptide and anti-BCE IgG in comparison to those obtained after immunisation with a single peptide in much higher quantity. Further improvement of immune response was obtained after incorporation of such a peptide mixture into oil-based adjuvants.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Research and Development Department, Rockefellerova 10, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. bhalassy@imz.hr
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Halassy
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mateljak
authors.forename: Fabienne B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Bouche
authors.forename: Mike M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pütz
authors.forename: Claude P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Ruza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frkanec
authors.forename: Lidija
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Habjanec
authors.forename: Jelka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomasić
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010455:Peptides