Epitopes recognized by human T lymphocytes in the ROP2 protein antigen of Toxoplasma gondii

The ROP2 protein of Toxoplasma gondii possesses immunological and biological properties which have led to its proposal as a vaccine candidate. To identify epitopes recognized by human T cells in the ROP2 antigen, we submitted the sequence of this protein to three reported T-cell epitope prediction a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Infection and Immunity 1996-09, Vol.64 (9), p.3858-3862
Main Authors: Saavedra, R. (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City.), Becerril, M.A, Dubeaux, C, Lippens, R, Vos, M.J. de, Herion, P, Bollen, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antigens, Protozoan - immunology
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Line
Epitope Mapping
Human protozoal diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Lymphocyte Activation
Medical sciences
Membrane Proteins - immunology
Molecular Sequence Data
Parasitic diseases
Protozoal diseases
Protozoan Proteins - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
Toxoplasma - immunology
TOXOPLASMA GONDII
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis - immunology
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Summary:The ROP2 protein of Toxoplasma gondii possesses immunological and biological properties which have led to its proposal as a vaccine candidate. To identify epitopes recognized by human T cells in the ROP2 antigen, we submitted the sequence of this protein to three reported T-cell epitope prediction algorithms. Three sequences that were predicted by all three methods were selected (sequences 197 to 216, 393 to 410, and 501 to 524), and the corresponding peptides were synthesized. The peptides were first tested in a proliferation assay with a DPw4-restricted, ROP2-specific human T-cell clone, and the peptide corresponding to residues 197 to 216 was shown to stimulate the T-cell clone. The three peptides were further tested in proliferation assays with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a panel of T. gondii-seropositive and -seronegative individuals. We found that cells from a high proportion of the seropositive donors (64%) recognized at least one of the three peptides. The most frequently recognized ones were peptides 197 to 216 (45%) and 501 to 524 (36%). None of the seronegative donors responded to any peptide. These results show that the ROP2 antigen of T. gondii contains T-cell epitopes recognized by a high percentage of the immune population and further strengthen its potential as a vaccine candidate
ISSN:0019-9567
1098-5522
DOI:10.1128/IAI.64.9.3858-3862.1996