title: [Identification of the IgE-binding epitopes in main dust mite allergen Der p 1].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the IgE-binding epitopes in the allergen Der p 1 of main house dust mites, which can be recognized by the specific IgE in the sera from allergic individuals, and obtain a hypoallergen derived from the T-B epitope fused peptide for potential use in specific immunotherapy (SIT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one peptides containing 15 amino acids each, which covered the full 222 amino acids of Der p 1 protein sequence, were synthesized on the cellulous membrane by solid-phase peptide (SPOTs) synthesis, with 8 overlapping amino acids between every two neighboring peptides. The membrane bearing the spots of the synthesized peptides were incubated with the allergic serum pools consisting of the sera from 5 allergic individuals. The membrane was then probed with HRP-conjugated anti-human IgE, followed by enhanced chemiluminescence (ECL) for visualization and gray scale analysis of the positive peptide spots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three strong IgE-binding epitopes were identified in the amino acid sequence of Der p 1 molecule, namely Ep1 (amino acids 85-99), Ep2 (amino acids 106-120) and Ep3 (amino acids 190-204).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3 IgE-binding epitopes (B cell epitopes) identified in Der p 1 confirm the presence of linear epitopes in Der p 1, suggesting the possibility of constructing T/B epitope-fused hypoallergens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. zhongzhimei0439@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Zhi-mei
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Chuan-dong
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D008222:Lymphokines; C013059:immunoglobulin-binding factors; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1