Murine and human B cell epitope mapping of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 10-kD heat shock protein using overlapping peptides.

The human immune response to the 10-kD M. tuberculosis protein was studied by a competition ELISA using monoclonal antibody (MoAb) SA-12. Twenty-five per cent of the sera from 20 patients with tuberculosis and none from 21 control subjects inhibited binding of SA-12 to the 10-kD antigen. To characterize the antigenic parts of the 10-kD antigen, overlapping decapeptides according to the amino acid sequence of the 10-kD protein were synthesized. In total, 91 sequential decapeptides, with an overlap of nine amino acids, were tested in ELISA with MoAb SA-12, human and murine sera (PEP scan). SA-12 recognized the amino acid sequence WDEDGEK (amino acid 50-56). All human sera, from patients with tuberculosis as well as from control subjects, gave almost identical undulating patterns of reactivity with the decapeptides. No relationship was found between the ability of the patients' sera to inhibit binding of MoAb SA-12 and the binding of these sera to the decapeptides comprising the epitope recognized by SA-12 in the PEP scan. Apparently, antibodies in patients' sera against the 10-kD protein are predominantly directed against discontinuous epitopes and, consequently, the continuous epitopes as presented in the PEP scan are not suitable to discriminate between patients with tuberculosis and control subjects. In the PEP scan, sera from BALB/c mice, both non-immunized and immunized with either live M. tuberculosis or the 10-kD protein gave similar patterns of reactivity, albeit different from the patterns obtained with the human sera. However, after immunization of the mice, clearly increased levels of antibodies to primary structures of the 10-kD protein were observed.     

肿瘤相关抗原CEA的B细胞表位预测

目的分析癌胚抗原（carcinoembryonic antigen,CEA）的B细胞表位,为肿瘤治疗提供理论基础。方法以CEA的完整氨基酸序列为研究基础,采用Hopp＆Woods的亲水性方案,Emini表面可及性方案和Jameson-Wolf抗原指数方案,辅以CEA的二级结构及其柔性区域分析,预测CEA的B细胞表位。结果预测的B细胞表位可能位于CEA的N端第150～160、168～172、207～211、332～338、372～377、467～472、485～490、507～516、580～584区段。结论应用多参数预测CEA的B细胞表位,可进一步用于CEA相关肿瘤治疗性表位疫苗的分子设计和研究。     

Human T cell responses to peptide epitopes of the 16-kD antigen in tuberculosis.

The 16-kD protein constituent of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex has been known mainly for its prominent serological immunogenicity and species specificity in tuberculous infection. In this study, we evaluated the T cell immune repertoire in 27 sensitized healthy subjects and 46 patients with active tuberculosis using 14 overlapping 20mer peptides spanning the entire sequence of this protein. Four of the tested peptides individually stimulated proliferation of blood mononuclear cells from more than 50% of healthy controls. Tuberculosis patients reacted to a narrower peptide range and with a 17-27% lower rate of responses to the four most immunogenic peptides, but these differences do not distinguish in any simple way between the T cell repertoire of patients and sensitized healthy subjects. The most immunogenic peptide (91-110) was recognized by 67% of healthy subjects and by 50% of tuberculosis patients. Importantly, several non-responders to this peptide were stimulated with the other three most permissive peptides with sequences of 111-130, 71-91 and 21-40, resulting in an overall response rate to at least one of these four peptides of 93% in healthy controls and 74% in tuberculosis patients. In view of this additive effect between the most immunogenic peptides, their combined use may achieve sufficient sensitivity in a test aimed at the specific discrimination between infected and non-infected healthy subjects. The major interest in testing with these peptides rests in their species specificity, which is not achieved using purified protein derivative (PPD).     

Leprosy patients with lepromatous disease recognize cross-reactive T cell epitopes in the Mycobacterium leprae 10-kD antigen

T cell responses play a critical role in determining protective responses to leprosy. Patients with self-limiting tuberculoid leprosy show high T cell reactivity, while patients with disseminated lepromatous form of the disease show absent to low levels of T cell reactivity. Since the T cell reactivity of lepromatous patients to purified protein derivative (PPD), a highly cross-reactive antigen, is similar to that of tuberculoid patients, we queried if lepromatous patients could recognize cross-reactive epitopes in Mycobacterium leprae antigens as well. T cell responses were analysed to a recombinant antigen 10-kD (a heat shock cognate protein) which is available from both M. tuberculosis (MT) and M. leprae (ML) and displays 90% identity in its amino acid sequence. Lymphoproliferative responses were assessed to ML and MT 10 kD in newly diagnosed leprosy patients (lepromatous, n = 23; tuberculoid, n = 65). Lepromatous patients showed similar, but low, lymphoproliferative responses to ML and MT 10 kD, while tuberculoid patients showed much higher responses to ML 10 kD. This suggests that the tuberculoid patients may be recognizing both species-specific and cross-reactive epitopes in ML 10 kD, while lepromatous patients may be recognizing only cross-reactive epitopes. This was further supported by linear regression analysis. Lepromatous patients showed a high concordance in T cell responses between ML and MT 10 kD (r = 0.658; P < 0.0006) not observed in tuberculoid patients (r = 0.203; P > 0.1). Identification of cross-reactive T cell epitopes in M. leprae which could induce protective responses should prove valuable in designing second generation peptide-based vaccines.     

Characterization of HLA-DR- and TCR-binding residues of an immunodominant and genetically permissive peptide of the 16-kDa protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The 16-kDa protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis represents an important antigenic target during bacillary latency and, consequently, should be considered as candidate subunit vaccine component. In this study, we have used CD4 T cell clones that recognize the peptide p91-110, an immunodominant and genetically permissive epitope, in the context of five different HLA-DR molecules and truncated and substituted variants of this peptide, to identify the minimal binding sequence (HLA-DR-binding core) and the minimal stimulatory sequence (TCR-binding core), as well as the residues that contact HLA-DR molecules and the TCR. We have found a common 9-mer sequence, spanning amino acids 93-101, as the binding core for HLA-DR1, -DR11, -DR13 and -DR7, but a longer (13-mer) sequence spanning amino acids 92-104 was required for binding to the HLA-DR15 molecules. F(93) was required for binding to all the tested HLA-DR molecules, hence allowing us to identify it as the N-terminal primary anchor residue (P1). Additionally, the binding requirements for other residues varied considerably between the tested alleles: A(94) for HLA-DR15, V(99) for HLA-DR1, -DR15, -DR11 and -DR7, R(100) for HLA-DR11 and -DR13, and L(104) for HLA-DR15. Concerning the residues of p91-110 peptide required for binding to the TCR, the pepscan analysis results would support the contention that P(-1) E(92), P6 F(98) would be important TCR contact sites because their substitutions led to full loss of T cell activation. Moreover, P8 R(100) is found to be critical residue in binding to HLA-DR11- and -DR13-restricted T cell clones, without influencing binding to the relevant HLA-DR molecule. Our results could be useful to design peptides with altered HLA anchor residues or TCR interaction sites to achieve remarkable increase in activity and to study their vaccine potential.     

人Izumo蛋白的二级结构及B细胞抗原表位预测

目的:预测人Izumo蛋白的二级结构及B细胞抗原表位.方法:以人Izumo基因序列为基础,按Chou-Fasman和Gamier-Robson方法预测其编码蛋白的二级结构,采用Karplus-Schulz方法预测Izumo蛋白骨架区的柔韧性;按Kyte-Doolittle方法预测其亲水性、Emini方法预测蛋白质表面可能性及Jameson-Wolf方法预测抗原性指数.结果:Chou-Fasman及Gamier-Robson两种方法预测的结果均表明,Izumo蛋白含较多的α螺旋,蛋白第6～17、30～40、88～99、103～120、153～160、173～188、249～260、283～297、334～338和339～346区段可能是α螺旋中心,第21～25、198～200、245～248和320～323区段可能是β折叠中心.用Kyte-Doolittle、Emini和Jameson-wolf方法分别对Izumo蛋白B细胞抗原表位进行预测结果表明,蛋白质第36～42、62～66、94～99、118～122、129～132、151～154、161～164、173～177、205～208、212～216、256～265、271～276、283～288、314～318和336～350区段附近很可能为B细胞表位优势区域.结论:该研究结果有助于确定Izumo蛋白的B细胞优势表位及发挥免疫避孕的活性部位.     

Identification of B cell epitopes recognized by antibodies specific for the tumor antigen NY-ESO-1 in cancer patients with spontaneous immune responses

Expression of the germ line antigen NY-ESO-1 in adult somatic tissues other than testis is strictly found in association with cancer. Patients bearing NY-ESO-1 expressing tumors often develop integrated specific immune responses to the antigen, encompassing T cell and antibody responses. Hence, detection of NY-ESO-1 specific antibody responses can be considered as a cancer biomarker of great interest. Here, we used synthetic peptides spanning the sequence of the NY-ESO-1 protein to assess antibody responses in cancer patients. This approach allowed the identification of peptides containing linear B cell epitopes. Some peptides were recognized by the majority of seropositive patients thus identifying several distinct regions of the protein containing frequently recognized B cell epitopes. The results of this study provide the first appraisal of the diversity of naturally-occurring NY-ESO-1 specific antibodies and could be instrumental in the monitoring of therapy-induced antibody responses in cancer patients receiving NY-ESO-1-based vaccines.     

人类肝素酶B细胞表位的预测和免疫原性鉴定

目的 预测并鉴定肝素酶(heparanase)蛋白B细胞表位免疫原性.方法 以肝素酶蛋白的氨基酸序列为基础,采用DNAStar分析软件以及Bcepred在线二级结构分析工具分析其蛋白二级结构并预测B细胞表位.根据预测结果 ,采用8分支多抗原肽结构合成针对该表位的抗原肽,将后者与通用型T辅助表位人IL-1β线性短肽(VQGEESNDK,氨基酸163～171)联合免疫日本白毛黑眼兔,检测免疫血清效价,鉴定其特异性和免疫原性.结果 软件预测显示,肝素酶蛋白大亚基的第1～15位(MAP1)、第279～293位(MAP2)及175～189位(MAP3)氨基酸序列最可能为其优势B细胞表位.间接酶联免疫吸附试验、免疫印迹及免疫组化分析,证实MAP1、MAP2及MAP3均能诱导机体产生高滴度抗体,但仅MAP1、MAP2抗体具有高特异性,MAP2抗体与肝癌组织的结合力最强.结论 肝素酶大亚基的第1～15位、第279～293位氨基酸为其优势B细胞表位,其中第279～293位氨基酸的免疫原性最强,这为肝素酶多肽抗体及B细胞优势短肽疫苗研制提供了理论依据.     

Cytokine profile,HLA restriction and TCR sequence analysis of human CD4+ T clones specific for an immunodominant epitope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis 16-kDa protein

The identification of immunodominant and universal mycobacterial peptides could be applied to vaccine design and have an employment as diagnostic reagents. In this paper we have investigated the fine specificity, clonal composition and HLA class II restriction of CD4+ T cell clones specific for an immunodominant epitope spanning amino acids 91-110 of the 16-kDa protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Twenty-one of the tested 28 clones had a Th1 profile, while seven clones had a Th0 profile. None of the clones had a Th2 profile. While the TCR AV gene usage of the clones was heterogeneous, a dominant TCR BV2 gene family was used by 18 of the 28 clones. The CDR3 regions of BV2+ T cell clones showed variation in lengths, but a putative common motif R-L/V-G/S-Y/W-E/D was detected in 13 of the 18 clones. Moreover, the last two to three residues of the putative CDR3 loops, encoded by conserved BJ sequences, could also play a role in peptide recognition. Antibody blockade and fine restriction analysis using HLA-DR homozygous antigen-presenting cells established that 16 of 18 BV2+ peptide-specific clones were DR restricted and two clones were DR-DQ and DR-DP restricted. Additionally, five of the 18 TCRBV2+ clones recognized peptide 91-110 in association with both parental and diverse HLA-DR molecules, indicating their promiscuous recognition pattern. The ability of peptide 91-110 to bind a wide range of HLA-DR molecules, and to stimulate a Th1-type interferon (IFN)-gamma response more readily, encourage the use of this peptide as a subunit vaccine component.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis PPE18 protein inhibits MHC class II antigen presentation and B cell response in mice

PPE18 protein belongs to PE/PPE family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We reported earlier that PPE18 protein provides survival advantage to M. tuberculosis during infection. In the current study, we found that PPE18 inhibits MHC class II-mediated antigen presentation by macrophages in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the surface level of MHC class II or co-stimulatory molecules. PPE18 does not affect antigen uptake or presentation of preprocessed peptide by macrophages. Antigen degradation was found to be inhibited by PPE18 protein due to perturbation in phagolysosomal acidification. PPE18-mediated inhibition of MHC class II antigen presentation caused poorer activation of CD4 T cells. Mice infected with M. smegmatis expressing PPE18 exhibited reduced maturation and activation of B cells and had decreased Mycobacteria-specific antibody titers. Thus M. tuberculosis probably utilizes PPE18 to inhibit MHC class II antigen presentation causing poorer activation of adaptive immune responses. This study may be useful in understanding host–pathogen interaction and open up directions of designing novel therapeutics targeting PPE18 to tackle this nefarious pathogen.     

Characterization of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutant deficient in pH-sensing adenylate cyclase Rv1264

Mycobacterium tuberculosis open reading frame Rv1264 encodes an adenylate cyclase that exhibits its highest enzymatic activity at an acidic pH of 6.0. This is the pH M. tuberculosis encounters in the phagosome. Consequently Rv1264 has been suggested to sense the phagosomal milieu resulting in adaption of M. tuberculosis to its intracellular niche. A targeted knock-out mutant deficient in Rv1264, however, exhibits wild-type virulence.     

Isolation of a 33-kDa protein antigen from delipidified Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv

A 33-kDa protein (TB33) was isolated from a delipidated cell sonicate (CS) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv (grown in Middlebrook 7H9 broth supplemented with glucose) using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) on a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) column. TB33 could not be isolated from the culture filtrate (CF) of M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv using Ni-NTA. TB33 was recognized by monoclonal antibodies (mAb) known to react with proteins of M. tuberculosis with a molecular mass of 33/34 kDa; namely, mAb F126-5, F67-1 and F126-2. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of TB33 was found to be Xaa-Xaa-Thr-Pro-Ala-Asp-Val-Ser/Cys-Asn-Val-Ala-Ile and thus, shows identity with the N-terminal of antigen 84 of M. tuberculosis except for two mismatches. Antibodies to TB33 could be raised in mice by administering four injections of TB33 (40 μg total protein). Sera from tuberculosis patients reacted with TB33, while those from normal healthy individuals did not. Received: 17 April 1996     

H5N1型高致病性禽流感病毒血凝素蛋白及神经氨酸酶的B细胞抗原表位预测

目的预测H5N1亚型高致病性禽流感病毒HA蛋白和NA蛋白的B细胞表位,为基于B细胞表位的预防性疫苗设计提供依据。方法基于HA蛋白和NA蛋白的蛋白质序列,采用Kyte-Doolittle的亲水性方案,Emini方案,Karplus方案和Jameson-wolf抗原指数方案,并辅以MAGE蛋白的二级结构柔性区域分析,预测HA蛋白和NA蛋白的B细胞表位。结果分别预测出了6条血凝素蛋白(Hemagglutinin,HA)以及6条神经氨酸酶(Neuraminidase,NA)B细胞优势表位。结论这些B细胞表位可为禽流感疫苗的研制提供实验依据。     

mPer2对小鼠B16黑色素瘤细胞增殖作用的影响

目的:研究mPer2对小鼠黑色素瘤细胞B16增殖作用的影响。方法:将构建好的mPer2全长表达质粒(pcDNA3.1-mPer2)转染入小鼠黑色素瘤细胞B16中,并以pcDNA3.1空质粒转染为对照,通过平板克隆形成实验和MTT法检测两组细胞的增殖情况。结果:平板克隆形成实验和MTT法检测结果均显示Period2转染组小鼠黑色素瘤细胞B16较空质粒对照组明显降低。结论:mPer2的高表达能显著性的抑制小鼠黑色素瘤细胞B16的生长。     

结核杆菌抗原激活MEK-ERK信号通路延迟中性粒细胞自发性凋亡的作用

探讨结核杆菌抗原(Mtb-Ag)对中性粒细胞自发性凋亡的影响。取健康成人外周血分离中性粒细胞,加Mtb-Ag培养24 h,或用Mek抑制剂PD98059预处理30 min,Annexin V染色流式细胞术观察细胞凋亡;并用Western blot印迹法检测Mek活化情况。与中性粒细胞体外培养24 h后自发凋亡(55%±6%)相比,加入Mtb-Ag(1.125 mg/ml)后,中性粒细胞凋亡率(31%±3%)明显降低;并且Mtb-Ag可诱导Mek的激活;而PD98059(50μmol/L)预处理可阻断Mtb-Ag的抑制凋亡作用。Mtb-Ag对中性粒细胞自发凋亡有抑制作用,这一作用涉及Mek-Erk途径。     

肿瘤抗原MAGE-A亚家族共同B细胞表位预测及分析

目的预测肿瘤抗原MAGE-A亚家族的B细胞表位,为基于多靶点的肿瘤疫苗设计提供依据。方法基于MAGE亚家族各成员蛋白质序列,采用Kyte-Doolittle的亲水性方案,Emini方案,Karplus方案和Jameson-wolf抗原指数方案,并辅以MAGE蛋白的二级结构柔性区域分析,预测MAGE基因家族的B细胞共同表位。结果共预测出了5条共同表位,且部分B细胞表位高度相似或一致。结论二级结构与B细胞表位相结合的预测方法为一种高效、准确的表位预测方法,可为肿瘤治疗性疫苗的设计提供实验依据。     

幽门螺杆菌尿素酶B亚单位Th表位的免疫学特性研究

采用MHC限制性分析、ELISA方法、淋巴细胞增殖实验等方法研究幽门螺杆菌(Hp)尿素酶B亚单位(UreB)的H- 2~d限制性Th表位U_(546-561)、U_(229-244)、U_(237-251)的免疫学特性。发现抗I-E~d抗体能够抑制U_(546-561)对CD4~+T淋巴细胞的刺激,抗I-A~d抗体能够抑制U_(229-244)、U_(237-251)对CD4~+T淋巴细胞的刺激作用。U_(229-244)、U_(229-244)能刺激CD4~+T淋巴细胞分泌IL-4和IL-10,U_(237-251)刺激CD4~+T淋巴细胞分泌IFN-γ、IL-2,且U_(546-561)、U_(229-244)、U_(237-251)三个表位肽免疫BALB/c小鼠能够引起针对各自免疫多肽和rUreB的CD4~+T细胞应答。结果表明U_(546-561)为I-E~d限制性Th2表位,U_(229-244)为I-A~d限制性Th2表位、U_(237-251)为I-A~d限制性Th1表位。三个表位之间具有协同刺激效应,可以用于Hp表位疫苗的研究。     

分析5种结核杆菌耐药基因突变与耐药水平的关系

目的：分析5种结核杆菌（M.tb)耐药基因突变的情况，了解基因突变和耐药水平的关系。方法：134例临床分离株均做传统梯度药敏试验和聚合酶链反应－单链构象多态性I（PCR－SSCP）试验。结果：耐PZA(pncA),SM(rpsL),REP(rpoB),INH(katG),EMB(embB)基因突变率分别为42．7％、72％、78％、69％和43．9％，其中，上述高耐株基因突变率分别为70％、87．2％、93．4％、80％、43．9％。低耐株分别为12．5％、28．5％、45．4％、18．7％，EMB在低耐区无基因突变，结论：M.tb耐药基因变与耐药水平联系密切，多数M.tb耐药基因突变易发生在高耐药区，也有少数菌基因突变易发生在低耐药区。     

Detection of mutation in isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from tuberculosis patients in Belarus

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency, location and type of katG mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from patients in Belarus. Forty two isoniazid-resistant isolates were identified from sputum of 163 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Drug susceptibility testing was determined by using CDC standard conventional proportional method and BACTEC system. Standard PCR method for detection of isoniazid resistance associated mutations was performed by katG gene amplification and DNA sequencing. Most mutations were found in katG gene codons 315, 316 and 309. Four types of mutations were identified in codon 315: AGC-->ACC (n=36) 85%, AGC-->AGG (n=1) 2.3%, AGC-->AAC (n=2) 4.7%, AGC-->GGC (n=1) 2.3%. One type of mutation was found in codon 316: GGC-->AGC (n=18) 41.4%, four types of mutations were detected in codon 309: GGT-->GGT (n=7) 16.1%, GGT-->GCT (n=4) 9.2%, GGT-->GTC (n=3)6.9%, GGT-->GGG (n=1) 2.7%. The highest frequency of mutations sharing between primary and secondary infections was found in codon 315.