Mimotopes identify conformational B-cell epitopes on the two major house dust mite allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2.
House dust mite allergy occurs in 10-20% of the population. Improvement of the present immunotherapy requires detailed knowledge about the structure of the allergens. Mimotopes selected from phage peptide libraries imitate the conformational epitopes of a natural allergen. The aim of our study was to generate epitope mimics for the two major allergens of house dust mite. When the monoclonal anti-Der p 1 and anti-Der p 2 antibodies were used for biopannings, mimotopes were selected which bound also specific IgE from human allergic patients' sera. The conformational matching of these mimotopes on the 3D structure of the natural allergens determined discontinuous epitopes in both cases, representing conformational B-cell epitopes relevant for binding of human IgE. Therefore, these mimotopes are potential candidates for the directed induction of blocking antibodies and epitope-specific immunotherapy of mite allergy.
Szalai
Krisztina
K
Department of Pathophysiology, Center of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Fuhrmann
Jan
J
Pavkov
Tea
T
Scheidl
Michael
M
Wallmann
Julia
J
Brämswig
Kira H
KH
Vrtala
Susanne
S
Scheiner
Otto
O
Keller
Walter
W
Saint-Remy
Jean-Marie
JM
Neumann
Dirk
D
Pali-Schöll
Isabella
I
Jensen-Jarolim
Erika
E
D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D007167:Immunotherapy; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D019151:Peptide Library; D011487:Protein Conformation
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; C451163:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 2; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D019151:Peptide Library; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1