title: Prediction of T Cell Epitopes from Leishmania major Potentially Excreted/Secreted Proteins Inducing Granzyme B Production.
abstract: Leishmania-specific cytotoxic T cell response is part of the acquired immune response developed against the parasite and contributes to resistance to reinfection. Herein, we have used an immune-informatic approach for the identification, among Leishmania major potentially excreted/secreted proteins previously described, those generating peptides that could be targeted by the cytotoxic immune response. Seventy-eight nonameric peptides that are predicted to be loaded by HLA-A*0201 molecule were generated and their binding capacity to HLA-A2 was evaluated. These peptides were grouped into 20 pools and their immunogenicity was evaluated by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HLA-A2+-immune individuals with a history of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Six peptides were identified according to their ability to elicit production of granzyme B. Furthermore, among these peptides 3 showed highest affinity to HLA-A*0201, one derived from an elongation factor 1-alpha and two from an unknown protein. These proteins could constitute potential vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transmission, Control, and Immunobiology of Infections-LR11IPT02, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.|University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ikbel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Naouar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transmission, Control, and Immunobiology of Infections-LR11IPT02, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.|University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Thouraya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boussoffara
authors.affiliation: University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.|Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Biotechnology and Biomolecules, LR11-IPT-06, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chenik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Charles Nicolle Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gritli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transmission, Control, and Immunobiology of Infections-LR11IPT02, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.|University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Melika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transmission, Control, and Immunobiology of Infections-LR11IPT02, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.|University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Belhadj Hmida
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transmission, Control, and Immunobiology of Infections-LR11IPT02, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.|UPSP EGEAL Institut Polytechnique LaSalle Beauvais, Beauvais, France.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bahi-Jaber
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Rafika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bardi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Yousr
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gorgi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transmission, Control, and Immunobiology of Infections-LR11IPT02, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.|University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Afif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Transmission, Control, and Immunobiology of Infections-LR11IPT02, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.|University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hechmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Louzir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D053804:Granzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D010455:Peptides; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D053804:Granzymes