In silico predicted mycobacterial epitope elicits in vitro T-cell responses

摘要: Epitope-based vaccines permit the selection of only a specific subset epitopes to induce necessary immune response, thus providing rational alternative conventional design approaches. Using range immunoinformatics tools, we identified novel, contiguous 28 amino acid multi-epitope cluster within highly conserved secretory protein Ag85B Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causative agent TB. This cluster, named Ep85B, is composed which bind three HLA Class I and 15 II molecules, harbors potential generate 99% population coverage in TB-endemic regions. We experimentally evaluated capacity Ep85B elicit T-cell responses using whole blood cells and, as predicted, observed significant increases populations both CD4+ memory CD45RO+ T-cells. Our results demonstrate practical utility an epitope-based methodology - strategy that, following further evaluation, may serve additional tool for development novel vaccine candidates against TB other diseases.