肿瘤抗原MAGE—12的表位及二级结构预测

目的 预测肿瘤抗原MAGE－12的α－螺旋二级结构、B细胞表位和MAGE－12的HLA－A2限制性CTL表位。方法 用Garnier-Robson和Chou-Fasman方案预测肿瘤抗原MAGE－12的α－螺旋二级结构;用Kyte-Doolittle亲水方案预测肿瘤抗原MAGE－12的B细胞表位;用简单基序（simple motifs)和延展基序（extended motifs）对肿瘤抗原MAGE－12的HLA－A2限制性CTL表位进行预测。结果 MAGE－12可以含有较多的α－螺旋;B细胞识别的表位可能在82－93残基（QSDEGSSNEE－QE）或附近和3－14残基（LEQRSQHCKPEE）或附近;发现1个HLA－A2限制性CTL表位为FLWGPRALV（271－279）。结论 用亲水性方案和基序法预测肿瘤抗原MAGE－12的B细胞表位和MAGE－12的HLA－A2限制性CTL表位,为实验方法探索MAGE－12的表位提供有用线索。     

用DNAStar软件预测Rv1410c结核分枝杆菌蛋白抗原表位

目的预测Rv1410c结核分枝杆菌(MTB)的抗原表位。方法利用DNAStar软件包中Editseq软件将Rv1410c MTB氨基酸序列进行编辑保存,然后利用Protean软件进行氨基酸序列分析,预测Rv1410c MTB的二级结构、B细胞抗原表位及T细胞抗原表位,然后再用BLAST分析其与人类抗原表位的同源性。结果 Rv1410c具有丰富的二级结构,含有较多潜在的B细胞抗原肽表位,主要位于1~10、67~77、129~137、189~205、222~235、253~267、296~306、330~338、359~367、462~467、494~517氨基酸残基或其附近,这些区域基本上含有β转角结构,亲水性、表面可能性和柔韧性指数都较高;也含有较多潜在的T细胞表位,主要位于16~37、84~102、108~115、137~160、202~207、219~222、245~263、321~325、355~362、387~391、417~445、486~494氨基酸残基或其附近。结论 Rv1410c MTB既含有较多潜在的B细胞抗原表位,也含有较多潜在的T细胞抗原表位。     

SARS病毒基因组所编码的E蛋白的二级结构和B细胞表位预测

目的：预测SARS病毒E蛋白的B细胞表位和二级结构。方法：以SARS病毒基因组序列为基础，采用Garnier-Robson方法、Chou-Fasman方法和Karplus-Schuhz方法预测E蛋白质的二级结构；用Kyte-Doohttle方案预测蛋白质的亲水性；用Emini方案预测蛋白质的表面可能性；用Jameson-Wolf方案预测氨基酸的抗原性指数。综合评判，预测SAPS病毒E蛋白的B细胞表位。结果：在SARS病毒E蛋白N-端的第1～6、13～19、39～43、47～64区段和第73～76区段有β-折叠中心；第6～12区段和第67～69区段可能形成转角或无规则卷曲，是柔性区域。E蛋白N端第2～13区段和第61～74区段为B细胞优势表位区域。结论：用多参数预测SARS病毒E蛋白的二级结构和B细胞表位，为实验方法探索SARS冠状病毒E蛋白的B细胞表位提供理论依据。     

人偏肺病毒黏附蛋白的二级结构及B细胞表位初步预测

目的预测人偏肺病毒G蛋白的二级结构及B细胞表位。方法分别采用SOPMA方法及HMMTOP程序预测G蛋白的二级结构和跨膜区域；综合分析蛋白的柔性结构、亲水性、表面可及性与抗原性指数，预测G蛋白的抗原表位。结果G蛋白的二级结构主要为柔性区域，占62．1％；廿螺旋占22．37％；β-折叠占15．53％；N端第32～51位氨基酸残基为跨膜区。B细胞表位位于G蛋白N端55—77、80-104、111～126、130～167、178—210区段。结论应用多参数预测G蛋白的二级结构与B细胞表位，为进一步研究蛋白特征、单克隆抗体制备及表位疫苗研制奠定了基础。     

人DAO氨基酸序列片段B-细胞表位的多参数预测

目的 预测人二氨氧化酶（ＢＡＯ）氨基酸序列片段（ａａＮｏ．５２４－６１８）的Ｂ－细胞表位。方法 应用６６中参数和方法进行综合分析。包括Ｈｏｐｐ ＆ Ｗｏｏｄｓ亲水性参数、抗原性参数、可及性参数、β－转角、万氏及吴氏综合预测方法。结果 显示Ｂ－细胞识别的表位可能在５４３－５３和５５９－５９５残基或其附近,５６９－５９５残基４种参数和方法的预测值均高于５４３－５５３残基,这两个被预测的表位均含有γ－志     

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.     

严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(SARS-CoV-2)刺突蛋白的B细胞及T细胞抗原表位的生物信息学分析

目的 使用生物信息学方法预测严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(SARS-CoV-2)刺突蛋白(S蛋白)的结构特点，并预测可能的B细胞和T细胞表位。方法 从NCBI数据库中获取SARS-CoV-2的S蛋白氨基酸序列，通过蛋白质基本性质分析工具ProtParam分析S蛋白的理化性质；利用综合性序列工具软件Lasergene和蛋白质二级结构分析软件SOMPA分析S蛋白二级结构；蛋白质同源物/类似物Y识别引擎Phyre2和分子图像观察软件Rasmol构建并分析S蛋白三级结构；B细胞表位预测工具ABCpred、 BepiPred和BcePred预测S蛋白的B细胞抗原表位；利用免疫表位数据库IEDB预测S蛋白的T细胞抗原表位。结果S蛋白由1273个氨基酸组成，理论等电点为6.24,原子组成为C₆₃₃₆H₉₇₇₀N₁₆₅₆O₁₈₉₄S₅₄,属于稳定亲水性蛋白。Lasergene软件的Gramier-Robson方法预测显示：α螺旋占23.5%、 β折叠占53.7%、转角区域占14.9%、无规则卷...     

人衰变加速因子的二级结构与B细胞表位预测

目的分析预测人衰变加速因子的二级结构特征及B细胞表位。方法比较Chou&Fasman经典方案和基于多重序列比较的PHDsec二级结构预测方案的预测准确率,应用较优方案对DAF的二级结构进行预测分析;运用Hopp&Woods的亲水性方案及PHDacc可及性方案预测DAF的亲水性和可及性,结合DAF的二级结构特征,分析预测DAF的B细胞表位。结果PHDsec方案对SCR的预测准确率明显高于Chou&Fasman方案,DAF的SCR1-4中无α螺旋,仅包含β折叠及袢;推测最可能的抗原表位位于Pro73-Val79、Arg130-Leu139及Glu156-Cys163;SCR1、SCR2与SCR3、SCR4在亲水性及二级结构分布方面具有较大差异。结论研究的分析预测结果将有助于确定DAF的B细胞表位及其生物学活性部位。     

EV-D68 VP1 蛋白的生物信息学分析和候选疫苗表位肽段预测及筛选

目的:通过对人肠道病毒D68型(EV-D68)衣壳蛋白VP1理化性质、结构功能和B细胞表位分析,获取候选疫苗肽段用于后期疫苗研制。方法:应用Bioedit软件、Netphos和ExPASy等在线工具分析EV-D68 VP1蛋白氨基酸序列。结果:EV-D68 VP1蛋白是等电点为8.73、相对分子量34.0 kD的亲水性蛋白质,具有35个可能的磷酸化位点,无信号肽和跨膜区,二级结构中不规则卷区有最高比例,α-螺旋和β-折叠散落在蛋白中;预测VP1蛋白具有多个可能的B细胞表位。结论:本研究分析了EV-D68 VP1的基本理化性质,结构功能和可能的B细胞表位,筛选了B细胞表位肽段,为EV-D68的进一步研究和疫苗的制备奠定基础。     

大肠杆菌O157：H7 IntC300 B细胞抗原表位的综合预测

目的预测肠出血型大肠杆菌O157：H7 IntiminC端300氨基酸片段（IntC300）的B细胞抗原表位。方法采用计算机软件和网络服务器分析IntC300的亲水性、β-转角、柔韧性、表面可及性和抗原指数。判断其B细胞抗原表位。结果B细胞抗原表位可能在20—36、76—88、189—198、262—279和284—296残基或其附近。结论对EHEC O157：H7 IntC300 B细胞抗原表位的综合预测，为研究诊断性单克隆抗体及多肽疫苗提供了理论工具。     

人类偏肺病毒F蛋白的B细胞表位预测

目的 预测人类偏肺病毒F蛋白的B细胞表位。方法综合分析二级结构、亲水性、表面可及性与抗原性指数，预测F蛋白的抗原表位。结果B细胞表位位于F蛋白N段15-28、88-102、161-189、195-202、206-213、245-257、290-299、302-309、318-334、410-419、515-526区段。结论应用多参数预测F蛋白的B细胞表位，为进一步研究蛋白特征、单克隆抗体制备及表位疫苗研制奠定了基础。     

Towards a vaccine against rheumatic fever

Rheumatic fever (RF) is an autoimmune disease which affects more than 20 million children in developing countries. It is triggered by Streptococcus pyogenes throat infection in untreated susceptible individuals. Carditis, the most serious manifestation of the disease, leads to severe and permanent valvular lesions, causing chronic rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We have been studying the mechanisms leading to pathological autoimmunity in RF/RHD for the last 15 years. Our studies allowed us a better understanding of the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of RHD, paving the way for the development of a safe vaccine for a post-infection autoimmune disease. We have focused on the search for protective T and B cell epitopes by testing 620 human blood samples against overlapping peptides spanning 99 residues of the C-terminal portion of the M protein, differing by one amino acid residue. We identified T and B cell epitopes with 22 and 25 amino acid residues, respectively. Although these epitopes were from different regions of the C-terminal portion of the M protein, they showed an identical core of 16 amino acid residues. Antibodies against the B cell epitope inhibited bacterial invasion/adhesion in vitro. Our results strongly indicated that the selected T and B cell epitopes could potentially be protective against S. pyogenes.     

Identification of crucial residues of conformational epitopes on VP2 protein of infectious bursal disease virus by phage display

A new method for identifying epitopes in viral proteins expressed by filamentous phage has been developed. Filamentous phage fUSE 1 containing the variable region of the VP2 gene of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) strain 002-73 was constructed. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies 17-82 and 33-10 raised against VP2 protein were used to bind phage containing the original variable region of VP2. The phage bound to monoclonal antibodies, were removed by protein G Sepharose and the unbound phage (escape mutants) were isolated for sequencing to locate the mutations. The crucial amino acid residues for conformational neutralizing epitopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies were located in the first main hydrophilic region (amino acids from 210 to 225) and the central region of the variable region of VP2. The amino acid residues on both ends of the variable region of VP2 affected considerably the binding of monoclonal antibodies. This technique might be useful for selecting escape mutants of phage displaying the original antigenic regions of other viruses to define the crucial amino acid residues of their conformational epitopes, especially viruses that cannot be grown in cell cultures.     

Structures and homology modeling of chicken major histocompatibility complex protein class I (BF2 and beta2m)

In order to elucidate the two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) structures of chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I protein (BF2 and beta2m) and further reconstruct their complex identifying the virus-derived antigenic peptides, the mature protein of BF2 and beta2m genes were expressed solubility in pMAL-p2X/Escherichia coli. TB1 system. The expressed MBP-BF2- and MBP-beta2m-fusion proteins were purified, and cleaved by the factor Xa protease. Subsequently, the monomers were further separated, and the purified MBP-BF2, -beta2m, and MBP were analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. The contents of alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn, and random coil in BF2 protein were 72, 102, 70, and 90 amino acids (aa), respectively. The beta2m proteins displayed a typical beta-sheet and the contents of alpha-helix, beta-sheet, turn, and random coil were 0, 46, 30, and 22 aa, respectively. Homology modeling of BF2 and beta2m proteins were similar as the 3D structure of human MHC class I (HLA-A2). The results showed that pMAL-p2X expression and purification system could be used to obtain the right conformational BF2 and beta2m proteins, and the 2D and 3D structures of BF2 and beta2m were revealed to be similar to human's. The recombinant BF2 and beta2m-based proteins might be a powerful tool for further detecting antigenic peptides.     

Mapping epitope specificities of monoclonal antibodies to thyroid peroxidase using recombinant antigen preparations.

Five separate monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to human thyroid peroxidase (hTPO) were raised by immunising Balb/c mice with hTPO purified from detergent solubilised thyroid microsomes by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The epitope specificities of these MoAbs were determined by assessing their ability to bind to purified recombinant fusion protein fragments of human TPO (TPO(r)) generated in E. coli. A total of seven small overlapping fragments (averaging 104 amino acid residues) of hTPO, encompassing over 90% of the extracellular region of the molecule, were generated as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins. The sequential epitopes on TPO(r) recognised by these MoAbs were analysed by both immunoblotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two different MoAbs (A4 and A5) recognised sequential epitopes within the TPO(r) preparation termed R1a + b (residues 1-160) and more specifically, in the case of MoAb A4, within the subfragment R1b (residues 70-160). The inability of the other MoAbs (A1-A3) to recognise recombinant fragments, suggests they either recognise conformational determinants on the TPO molecule or epitopes that are present on the small regions of the TPO molecule which have not been expressed as recombinant proteins.     

Capture ELISA for IgM antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum glutamate rich protein.

This report describes a novel mu chain capture ELISA for the detection of IgM antibodies against a Plasmodium falciparum antigen. A fragment of the 220 kDa P. falciparum glutamate rich protein containing amino acid residues 489-1271 was expressed in E. coli as a recombinant chimeric beta-galactosidase fusion protein and used as antigen after purification and biotinylation. Specific IgM antibodies were found in 51% (39/77) of sera from adult Liberians immune to malaria. The binding of IgM antibodies was specific for the malaria portion of the fusion protein and no cross-reactivity was found in sera from patients with IgM antibodies due to other diseases. Inhibition studies with a fusion protein containing amino acid residues 816-1134 (GLURP816-1134) representing the carboxy-terminal repeat region suggested a different use of epitopes for IgM antibodies in different individuals.     

Characterization of human monoclonal antibodies directed against the pp65-kD matrix antigen of human cytomegalovirus.

Human monoclonal antibodies specific for human cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens have been established using peripheral blood lymphocytes from a seropositive donor. Immortalization of antigen-specific B cells was achieved by Epstein-Barr virus transformation followed by somatic cell fusion of antigen-specific lymphoblastoid cells. Four clones producing high-affinity antibodies (0.2-7 x 10(9) M-1) specific for the viral matrix protein pp65 have been further characterized with respect to epitope specificity of secreted antibodies. The studied antigen represents a major protein produced by in vitro-cultivated virus, and is important in the serodiagnosis of CMV infection. The human monoclonal antibodies recognized different epitopes, some of which proved to be overlapping. The fine specificity of these antibodies was evaluated using synthetic peptides covering the sequence of pp65. The antibody MO58 recognized a linear epitope (residues 283-288) whereas antibody MO53 recognized a discontinuous epitope involving residues 208-216 and 280-285. Despite the close proximity of these epitopes, the antibodies did not compete with each other for the same binding site on intact antigen.     

苹果过敏原Mal d4蛋白抗原表位预测及交叉反应分析

目的:预测苹果过敏原Mal d 4蛋白B细胞和T细胞抗原表位,探讨Mal d 4蛋白与其同源蛋白之间的交叉反应性.方法:以苹果过敏原Mal d 4蛋白的氨基酸序列为基础,采用生物信息软件HNN预测二级结构;运用DNAStar和Bcepred软件预测其B细胞抗原表位,用NetMHCⅡ、NetMHCⅡpan、Syfpeithi及Propred软件综合预测T细胞抗原表位;采用Clustal X1.83、Swiss-Model软件比对同源序列和模拟空间构象.结果:该蛋白二级结构以无规则卷曲为主.B/T细胞共同抗原表位的区域为53～61、85～93.苹果Mal d 4蛋白与桃、芒果、甜樱桃、草莓中的前纤维蛋白氨基酸序列同源性达88%以上,空间构象相似.结论:苹果过敏原Mal d 4蛋白与桃、芒果、甜樱桃和草莓的前纤维蛋白之间可能存在交叉反应,其优势抗原表位区域可能为53～61、85～93,是后续过敏原改造的重点,为继续深入开展苹果过敏原基础性研究提供理论依据.     

Analysis of a conformational B cell epitope of human thyroid peroxidase: identification of a tyrosine residue at a strategic location for immunodominance

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is involved in autoimmune thyroid diseases and high titers of TPO autoantibodies directed to various conformational B cell epitopes are frequently present in patients' sera. Deciphering these epitopes is a difficult task, but can give insight into the structural basis of autoimmune recognition. TPO is a membrane-bound enzyme with the extracellular part organized in three protein domains, but of unknown three-dimensional structure. We previously localized a TPO B cell epitope within amino acid residues 742-848, a region encompassing the two C-terminal, extracellular domains of the protein. We found that at least one of the three tyrosine residues of the peptide 742-848 might be involved in autoantibody binding. In this study, we show by site-directed mutagenesis that the autoepitope contains tyrosine 772 located near the hinge area between the two protein domains, suggesting they are both involved in the epitope structure. The B cell epitopes of TPO are clustered in two overlapping immunodominant regions. To map the newly localized epitope with respect of these regions, competition experiments were performed using a reference panel of TPO mAb and a further mAb previously found to be specific for the TPO peptide 742-848 at variance with all the other ones. Here, we show that the tyrosine 772-bearing epitope in the peptide 742-848 maps in a region that partly overlaps the reported two immunodominant regions. These results are suggestive of a complex TPO folding that involves all the three TPO protein domains to form a highly conformational immunodominant region.     

Recognition of three epitopic regions on invasion plasmid antigen C by immune sera of rhesus monkeys infected with Shigella flexneri 2a.

The invasive ability of Shigella spp. is correlated with the expression of several plasmid-encoded proteins, including invasion plasmid antigen C (IpaC). By characterizing the antigenic structure of IpaC with monoclonal antibodies and convalescent-phase sera, it may be possible to determine the physical location of specific epitopes as well as the involvement of epitopes in a protective immune response or the host's susceptibility to disease. By using overlapping octameric synthetic peptides, which together represent the entire IpaC protein, the precise linear sequence of four surface-exposed epitopes was defined for four IpaC monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, 17 unique peptide epitopes of IpaC were mapped by using 9-day-postinfection serum samples from 13 rhesus monkeys challenged with Shigella flexneri 2a. Each individual recognized a somewhat different array of IpaC peptide epitopes after infection with shigellae. However, the epitopes were clustered within three regions of the protein: region I (between amino acid residues 1 and 61), region II (between amino acid residues 177 and 258), and region III (between amino acid residues 298 and 307). Region II was recognized by 92% of S. flexneri-infected individuals and was considered to be a highly immunogenic region. Animals asymptomatic for shigellosis after challenge with S. flexneri recognized peptide epitopes within all three epitopic regions of IpaC, whereas symptomatic animals recognized peptides in only one or two of the epitopic regions. Antibody from monkeys challenged with S. sonnei recognized IpaC peptide epitopes which fell within and outside the three S. flexneri epitopic regions. While numerous potential epitopes exist on the IpaC protein, the identification of three regions in which epitopes are clustered suggests that these regions are significant with respect to the immune response and to subsequent pathogenesis postinfection.