Mimicry in the Bite: Shared Sequences Between <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Salivary Proteins and Human Proteins.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Molecular mimicry contributes to the development of unwanted responses to self-antigens. Autoimmune phenomena have been observed in diseases caused by Aedes aegypti-transmitted arboviruses, but the occurrence of mimicry between salivary and human proteins has been unexplored.

Methods

We used bioinformatic tools to determine if peptides from Aedes aegypti salivary proteins were present in the human proteome. We further characterized the potential of shared sequences to induce immunity by analyzing their predicted binding to MHC molecules and their occurrence in peptides from the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB).

Results

We analyzed 9513 octapeptides from 29 Aedes aegypti salivary proteins against the human proteome and found 47 peptides id

SUBMITTER: Arevalo-Cortes A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12641683 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature