title: Immunogenicity of novel Dengue virus epitopes identified by bioinformatic analysis.
abstract: We used T cell epitope prediction tools to identify epitopes from Dengue virus polyprotein sequences, and evaluated in vivo and in vitro the immunogenicity and antigenicity of the corresponding synthetic vaccine candidates. Twenty-two epitopes were predicted to have a high affinity for MHC class I (H-2Kd, H-2Dd, H-2Ld alleles) or class II (IAd alleles). These epitopes were conserved between the four virus serotypes, but with no similarity to human and mouse sequences. Thirteen synthetic peptides induced specific antibodies production with or without T cells activation in mice. Three synthetic peptides induced mostly IgG antibodies, and one of these from the E gene induced a neutralizing response. Ten peptides induced a combination of humoral and cellular responses by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Twelve peptides were novel B and T cell epitopes. These results indicate that our bioinformatics strategy is a powerful tool for the identification of novel antigens and its application to human HLA may lead to a potent epitope-based vaccine against Dengue virus and many other pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Médica Yucatán, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. guburgos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Gilma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Burgos
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramos-Castañeda
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cedillo-Rivera
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dumonteil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D053059:Dengue Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D053059:Dengue Vaccines; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic