title: Promiscuous peptide of 16 kDa antigen linked to Pam2Cys protects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis by evoking enduring memory T-cell response.
abstract: One of the main reasons considered for BCG failure in tuberculosis-endemic areas is impediment by environmental mycobacteria in its processing and generation of memory T-cell response. To overcome this problem, we developed a unique lipopeptide (L91) by linking the promiscuous peptide (sequence 91-110) of 16 kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to Pam2Cys. L91 does not require extensive antigen processing and generates enduring Th1 memory response. This is evidenced by the fact that L91 significantly improved the activation, proliferation, and generation of protective T cells. Furthermore, L91 surmounts the barrier of major histocompatibility complex polymorphism and induces better protection than BCG. This peptide has self-adjuvanting properties and activates dendritic cells. Importantly, L91 activates T cells isolated from purified protein derivative-positive healthy volunteers that responded weakly to free peptide (F91). In essence, L91 can be a potent future vaccine candidate against tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Immunology and Cell Biology Division, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Uthaman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gowthaman
authors.forename: Vijender
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Weiguang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Shweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Kaneez F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Sathi Babu
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Chodisetti
authors.forename: Rama Krishna
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gurram
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parihar
authors.forename: Pushpa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Umesh D
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Javed N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Agrewala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D055666:Lipopeptides / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D055666:Lipopeptides; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C552442:S-(2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)propyl)cysteine; D032581:Tuberculosis Vaccines; C072681:Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens