Open AccessCell mediated immune response elicited in mice after immunization with the P64k meningococcal protein: epitope mapping
Author(s) -
González Sonia,
Nazábal Consuelo,
Rao Kanury V.S.,
Reyes Osvaldo,
Garay Hilda E.,
Caballero Evelin,
AlvarezObregón Julio C.,
Sardiñas Gretel,
Silva Ricardo
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsim.2004.05.007
Subject(s) - epitope , biology , neisseria meningitidis , antigen , immune system , t cell , immunization , recombinant dna , peptide sequence , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , biochemistry , bacteria , genetics , gene
The P64k protein of Neisseria meningitidis has been reported as an immunological carrier for weak immunogens. This investigation was aimed at characterizing the T‐cell response produced in primed mice and at identifying T helper cell epitopes within this molecule. BALB/c mice subcutaneously immunized with the recombinant antigen provided inguinal lymph node cells (LNC) that proliferated in the presence of P64k in a dose‐dependent manner. Proliferating cells secreted IL‐4 while the concentration of IL‐12 remained unaltered in the culture supernatant. By testing a panel of 59 overlapping synthetic peptides spanning the entire sequence of the antigen a T‐cell determinant was localized. Prime‐boost and lymphoproliferation experiments, conducted with highly purified synthetic peptides, confirmed that the segment including amino acids 470–485 comprises a T‐cell epitope within the P64k molecule.