Characterizing complex polysera produced by antigen-specific immunization through the use of affinity-selected mimotopes.
BACKGROUND
Antigen-based (as opposed to whole organism) vaccines are actively being pursued for numerous indications. Even though different formulations may produce similar levels of total antigen-specific antibody, the composition of the antibody response can be quite distinct resulting in different levels of therapeutic activity.


RESULTS
Using plasmid-based immunization against the proto-oncogene HER-2 as a model, we have demonstrated that affinity-selected epitope mimetics (mimotopes) can provide a defined signature of a polyclonal antibody response. Further, using novel computer algorithms that we have developed, these mimotopes can be used to predict epitope targets.


CONCLUSIONS
By combining our novel strategy with existing methods of epitope prediction based on physical properties of an individual protein, we believe that this method offers a robust method for characterizing the breadth of epitope-specificity within a specific polyserum. This strategy is useful as a tool for monitoring immunity following vaccination and can also be used to define relevant epitopes for the creation of novel vaccines.
Denisova
Galina
G
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Denisov
Dimitri
D
Evelegh
Carole
C
Weissgram
Michaela
M
Beck
Jochen
J
Foley
Stephen Ronan
SR
Bramson
Jonathan Lorne
JL
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology*; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D019151:Peptide Library; D051381:Rats; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D000939:Epitopes; D007106:Immune Sera; D019151:Peptide Library; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases