Epitope peptides

In order to model the effect of formalin fixation and antigen retrieval on antibody immunoreactivity, we used a peptide epitope array (Fig. 16.5). The peptide epitopes are derived from the exact sequences in the native proteins. In this experiment, the initial findings are similar to those shown in Figure 16.1, but they are then extended by allowing for the role of adjacent proteins. 

Column A (Fig. 16.5) shows the baseline binding capability of each antibody for its peptide epitope. Prior experiments had established that each antibody only binds to its specific peptide and not the others.15 The presence of a colored spot on the glass slide indicates immunoreactivity. Each row contains a different peptide and antibody combination, as indicated by the legend to the left. The legend at the top of Figure 16.5 indicates that the peptides in column A are not treated in any way. 

Even among the group of peptide epitopes, there was a striking variability in the speed of formalin fixation and antigen retrieval, suggesting hetero-... 

Haselden BM, Kay AB, Larche M Immunoglobulin E-independent major histocompatibility complex-restricted T cell peptide epitope-induced late asthmatic reactions. J Exp Med 1999 189 1885-1894. 

The two examples from our work we are going to describe below are the design and study of liposomal diepitope constructs combining either (i) B and T-helper (Th) peptide epitopes, which induced particularly powerful humoral responses (21) (Fig. 3) or (ii) CTL and Th epitopes, which provided a powerful antitumor vaccine (74) (Fig. 4). For the production of these constructs we have conjugated peptides that contain a cysteine residue either at the N- or C-terminus, to the surface of preformed liposomes by reaction with thiol reactive functionalized phospholipids and/or PamaCys lipopeptide anchors (Fig. 2). To that end, we have developed strategies that give, in aqueous media, high... 

Boeckler C, et al. Design of highly immunogenic liposomal constructs combining structurally independent B cell and T helper cell peptide epitopes. Eur J Immunol 1999 29 2297. 

Several antigenic peptides that are naturally processed and presented by A2.1 and corresponding to human wild-type (wt) p53, hdm2, and CD19 sequences have been identified in the laboratory. Tg mice-derived CTL lines specific for the identified wt p53 and hdm2 peptide epitopes were of sufficiently high... 

M. Theobald, T. Rnppert, U. Kuckelkorn, J. Hernandez, A. Hanssler, E.A. Ferreira, U. Liewer, J. Biggs, A.J. Levine, C. Huber, U.H. Koszinowski, P.M. Kloetzel, and L.A. Sherman, The sequence alteration associated with a mntational hotspot in p53 protects cells from lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for a flanking peptide epitope, J. Exp. Med. 188, 1017 1028 (1998). 

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