title: Differential T-cell responses of semi-immune and susceptible malaria subjects to in silico predicted and synthetic peptides of Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: Malaria remains a public health hazard in tropical countries as a consequence of the rise and spread of drug and insecticide resistances; hence the need for a vaccine with widespread application. Protective immunity to malaria is known to be mediated by both antibody and cellular immune responses, though characterization of the latter has been less extensive. The aim of the present investigation was to identify novel T-cell epitopes that may contribute to naturally acquired immune responses against malaria. Using the Microsoft software, Epitome™ T-cell peptide epitopes on 19 Plasmodium falciparum proteins in the Plasmodium Database (www.plasmodb.org.PlasmoDB 9.0) were predicted in-silico. The peptides were synthesized and used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in 14 semi-immune and 21 malaria susceptible subjects for interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production ex-vivo. The level of IFN-γ production, a marker of T-cell responses, was measured by ELISPOT assay in semi-immune subjects (SIS) and frequently sick subjects (FSS) from an endemic zone with perennial malaria transmission. Of the 19 proteins studied, 17 yielded 27 pools (189 peptides), which were reactive with the subjects' PBMCs when tested for IFN-γ production, taking a stimulation index (SI) of ≥2 as a cutoff point for a positive response. There were 10 reactive peptide pools (constituting eight protein loci) with an SI of 10 or greater. Of the 19 proteins studied, two were known vaccine candidates (MSP-8 and SSP2/TRAP), which reacted both with SIS and FSS. Similarly the hypothetical proteins (PFF1030w, PFE0795c, PFD0880w, PFC0065c and PF10_0052) also reacted strongly with both SIS and FSS making them attractive for further characterization as mediators of protective immunity and/or pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: djnyhalah@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jerome Nyhalah
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Dinga
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: ksmbandi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimbung Mbandi
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: chongwa_ub@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Fidelis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cho-Ngwa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: ndepf@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nde Peter
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Fon
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: sirmolison@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Johnson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moliki
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: rossefeti@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rose Mary
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Efeti
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: nyasab@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Babila Raymond
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Nyasa
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: anongdn@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Damian Nota
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Anong
authors.affiliation: Microsoft Corporation, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: jojic@microsoft.com.
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jojic
authors.affiliation: Microsoft Corporation, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: heckerma@microsoft.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heckerman
authors.affiliation: Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, 307 Westlake Avenue N, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109-5219, USA. Electronic address: ruobing.wang@sbri.org.
authors.forename: Ruobing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon. Electronic address: vpk.titanji@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vincent P K
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Titanji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D010455:Peptides; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: ELISPOT; Interferon-gamma; Malaria; T-cell epitope; Vaccine