title: In silico predicted epitopes from the COOH-terminal extension of cysteine proteinase B inducing distinct immune responses during Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis experimental murine infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmania parasites have been reported to interfere and even subvert their host immune responses to enhance their chances of survival and proliferation. Experimental Leishmania infection in mice has been widely used in the identification of specific parasite virulence factors involved in the interaction with the host immune system. Cysteine-proteinase B (CPB) is an important virulence factor in parasites from the Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana complex: it inhibits lymphocytes Th1 and/or promotes Th2 responses either through proteolytic activity or through epitopes derived from its COOH-terminal extension. In the present study we analyzed the effects of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis CPB COOH-terminal extension-derived peptides on cell cultures from murine strains with distinct levels of susceptibility to infection: BALB/c, highly susceptible, and CBA, mildly resistant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Predicted epitopes, obtained by in silico mapping, displayed the ability to induce cell proliferation and expression of cytokines related to Th1 and Th2 responses. Furthermore, we applied in silico simulations to investigate how the MHC/epitopes interactions could be related to the immunomodulatory effects on cytokines, finding evidence that specific interaction patterns can be related to in vitro activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our results, we consider that some peptides from the CPB COOH-terminal extension may influence host immune responses in the murine infection, thus helping Leishmania survival.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, IOC, Fiocruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365 Manguinhos Pavilhão Leônidas Deane-sl, 209 CEP: 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Bernardo A S
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Franklin S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Karina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rebello
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marín-Villa
authors.forename: Yara M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Traub-Cseko
authors.forename: Thereza C B
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Álvaro L
authors.initials: ÁL
authors.lastname: Bertho
authors.forename: Ernesto R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Caffarena
authors.forename: Carlos R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Alves
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D057056:Cysteine Proteases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D057056:Cysteine Proteases