title: Dominant T-cell epitopes of filarial BmALT-2 and their cytokine profile in BALB⁄c mice.
abstract: Filarial nematodes down-regulate the host immune response to establish infection by inducing IL-10-mediated T-cell suppression.Abundant larval transcript (ALT) proteins are of major interest as they are expressed abundantly in the L3 stage, implicated in protective immunity and may play a role in immune evasion. The T-cell epitopes of BmALT-2 and the cytokine responses induced by these peptides were investigated in a mouse model using synthetic peptides, which could be exploited in the design of a potent epitope-based vaccine. Five regions were found to carry T-cell epitopes inducing high levels of cellular proliferation. The regions 55–68 and 73–91 of ALT-2 induced very high levels of IL-10 secretion and hence could be involved in immunomodulation in the host.
authors.affiliation: Centre For Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madhumathi
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nageswara Rao
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaliraj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D017178:Brugia malayi / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C521555:ALT-2 protein, Brugia malayi; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins