Mapping of epitopes recognized by antibodies induced by immunization of mice with PspA and PspC.

ABSTRACT: Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) and pneumococcal surface protein C (PspC) are important candidates for an alternative vaccine against pneumococcal infections. Since these antigens show variability, the use of variants that do not afford broad protection may lead to the selection of vaccine escape bacteria. Epitopes capable of inducing antibodies with broad cross-reactivities should thus be the preferred antigens. In this work, experiments using peptide arrays show that most linear epitopes recognized by antibodies induced in mice against different PspAs were located at the initial 44 amino acids of the mature protein and that antibodies against these linear epitopes did not confer protection against a lethal challenge. Conversely, linear epitopes recognized by antibodies to PspC incl

SUBMITTER: Vadesilho CF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4097434 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature