title: An Introduction to B-Cell Epitope Mapping and In Silico Epitope Prediction.
abstract: Identification of B-cell epitopes is a fundamental step for development of epitope-based vaccines, therapeutic antibodies, and diagnostic tools. Epitope-based antibodies are currently the most promising class of biopharmaceuticals. In the last decade, in-depth in silico analysis and categorization of the experimentally identified epitopes stimulated development of algorithms for epitope prediction. Recently, various in silico tools are employed in attempts to predict B-cell epitopes based on sequence and/or structural data. The main objective of epitope identification is to replace an antigen in the immunization, antibody production, and serodiagnosis. The accurate identification of B-cell epitopes still presents major challenges for immunologists. Advances in B-cell epitope mapping and computational prediction have yielded molecular insights into the process of biorecognition and formation of antigen-antibody complex, which may help to localize B-cell epitopes more precisely. In this paper, we have comprehensively reviewed state-of-the-art experimental methods for B-cell epitope identification, existing databases for epitopes, and novel in silico resources and prediction tools available online. We have also elaborated new trends in the antibody-based epitope prediction. The aim of this review is to assist researchers in identification of B-cell epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Potocnakova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia; Institute of Neuroimmunology of Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Mangesh
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8734-4364
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhide
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biomedical Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 041 81 Kosice, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Lucia Borszekova
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1691-366X
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Pulzova
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D016208:Databases, Factual; D055808:Drug Discovery; D018604:Epitope Mapping / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D012984:Software; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D014612:Vaccines