Construction of synthetic immunogen: use of new T-helper epitope on malaria circumsporozoite protein

Science. 1987 Feb 27;235(4792):1059-62. doi: 10.1126/science.2434994.

Abstract

The circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium falciparum is the focus of intense efforts to develop an antisporozoite malaria vaccine. Localization of sites for T-cell recognition on this molecule is critical for vaccine design. By using an algorithm designed to predict T-cell sites and a large panel of H-2 congenic mice, a major nonrepetitive T-cell site was located. When a synthetic peptide corresponding to this site was covalently linked to the major B-cell site on the molecule, an immunogen capable of eliciting a high-titer antibody response was formed. This peptide sequence could prime helper T cells for a secondary response to the intact CS protein. The new helper T-cell site is located outside the repetitive region of the CS protein and appears to be the immunodominant T site on the molecule. This approach should be useful in the rational design and construction of vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Peptide Fragments / chemical synthesis
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / immunology*
  • Protozoan Proteins*
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology*
  • Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Epitopes
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Vaccines
  • circumsporozoite protein, Protozoan