Superagonists and Prediction of Epitopes

Based on the proliferative response of TCC to 220 peptide amide sublibraries, individual (defined) undecapeptide amides potentially acting as synthetic epitopes were synthesized. From investigation of these peptides in proliferation assays it became evident that TCC 5G7 responded to all selected peptides at much lower antigen concentration than MBP (86-96). The synthetic epitopes induced maximum stimulation at a concentration of 1 ng/ml, whereas 100 pg/ml of the natural epitope MBP(86-96) was necessary to induce comparable proliferation. 

Results from testing combinatorial libraries will support the design of cocktails of peptides applicable in prophylactic or therapeutic tumor vaccination or the construction of immunomodulating peptides for therapy of autoimmune diseases. Peptide libraries are also one of the most promising tools in the development of therapeutic approaches based on the actual status of an individuals immune response. 

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