Structure prediction, expression, and antigenicity of c-terminal of GRP78.

Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is a typical endoplasmic reticulum luminal chaperone having a main role in the activation of the unfolded protein response. Because of hypoxia and nutrient deprivation in the tumor microenvironment, expression of GRP78 in these cells becomes higher than the native cells, which makes it a suitable candidate for cancer targeting. Suppression of survival signals by antibody production against C-terminal domain of GR78 (CGRP) can induce apoptosis of cancer cells. The aim of this study was in silico analysis, recombinant production, and characterization of CGRP in Escherichia coli. Structural prediction of CGRP by bioinformatics tools was done and the construct containing optimized sequence was transferred to E. coli T7 shuffle. Expression was induced by isopropyl-ß-d-thiogalactoside, and recombinant protein was purified by Ni-NTA agarose resin. The content of secondary structures was obtained by circular dichroism (CD) spectrum. CGRP immunogenicity was evaluated from the immunized mouse sera. SDS-PAGE analysis showed CGRP expression in E. coli. CD spectrum also confirmed prediction of structures by bioinformatics tools. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using sera from immunized mice revealed CGRP as a good immunogen. The results obtained in this study showed that the structure of truncated CGRP is very similar to its structure in the whole protein context. This protein can be used in cancer researches.

Independent expansion of epitope-specific plasma cell responses upon HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein immunization.

Abs that bind the functional envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike are considered critical for a broadly effective prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine. The difficulty in eliciting such Abs by vaccination is partially attributed to the immunodominance of hydrophilic, surface-exposed variable protein regions of Env. However, little is known about the potential for competition between B cells that recognize distinct and distal epitopes on Env during protein subunit vaccination. In this study, we address this basic question at the level of Ab-secreting cells and serum IgG using a pair of isogenic soluble Env trimers, designated wildtype and gV3, which differ only in their potential to activate B cell responses against the highly immunogenic V3 region of Env. Immunization of mice with gV3 resulted in a markedly lower Ag-specific response compared with that induced by wildtype Env and could be explained by a loss of V3-directed reactivities. There was no redistribution of the response to other regions of Env in gV3-inoculated mice, suggesting that the epitope-specific Ab-secreting cell responses measured after boost are independently regulated rather than dictated by direct or indirect competition between B cells recognizing different structural elements of Env. This information is relevant for ongoing efforts in Env immunogen design to focus responses on conserved neutralizing determinants and for our general understanding of B cell responses to large-protein Ags that display numerous B cell epitopes.

Immunogenicity of recombinant Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guèrin clones expressing T and B cell epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens.

Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guèrin (rBCG) expressing three T cell epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) Ag85B antigen (P1, P2, P3) fused to the Mtb8.4 protein (rBCG018) or a combination of these antigens fused to B cell epitopes from ESAT-6, CFP-10 and MTP40 proteins (rBCG032) were used to immunize Balb/c mice. Total IgG responses were determined against Mtb8.4 antigen and ESAT-6 and CFP-10 B cell epitopes after immunization with rBCG032. Mice immunized with rBCG032 showed a significant increase in IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies against ESAT-6 and MTP40 (P1) B cell epitopes and IgG3 against both P1 and P2 B cell epitopes of MPT40. Splenocytes from mice immunized with rBCG018 proliferated against Ag85B P2 and P3 T cell epitopes and Mtb8.4 protein whereas those from mice-immunized with rBCG032 responded against all Ag85B epitopes and the ESAT-6 B cell epitope. CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes from mice immunized with rBCG018 produced primarily Th1 type cytokines in response to the T cell epitopes. Similar pattern of recognition against the T cell epitopes were obtained with rBCG032 with the additional recognition of ESAT-6, CFP-10 and one of the MTP40 B cell epitopes with the same pattern of cytokines. This study demonstrates that rBCG constructs expressing either T or T and B cell epitopes of MTB induced appropriate immunogenicity against MTB.

Expression and purification of chimeric peptide comprising EGFR B-cell epitope and measles virus fusion protein T-cell epitope in Escherichia coli.

Chimeric peptide MVF-EGFR(237-267), comprising a B-cell epitope from the dimerization interface of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and a promiscuous T-cell epitope from measles virus fusion protein (MVF), is a promising candidate antigen peptide for therapeutic vaccine. To establish a high-efficiency preparation process of this small peptide, the coding sequence was cloned into pET-21b and pET-32a respectively, to be expressed alone or in the form of fusion protein with thioredoxin (Trx) and His(6)-tag in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The chimeric peptide failed to be expressed alone, but over-expressed in the fusion form, which presented as soluble protein and took up more than 30% of total proteins of host cells. The fusion protein was seriously degraded during the cell disruption, in which endogenous metalloproteinase played a key role. Degradation of target peptide was inhibited by combined application of EDTA in the cell disruption buffer and a step of Source 30Q anion exchange chromatography (AEC) before metal-chelating chromatography (MCAC) for purifying His(6)-tagged fusion protein. The chimeric peptide was recovered from the purified fusion protein by enterokinase digestion at a yield of 3.0 mg/L bacteria culture with a purity of more than 95%. Immunogenicity analysis showed that the recombinant chimeric peptide was able to arouse more than 1×10(4) titers of specific antibody in BALB/c mice. Present work laid a solid foundation for the development of therapeutic peptide vaccine targeting EGFR dimerization and provided a convenient and low-cost preparation method for small peptides.

Expression and characterization of Escherichia coli derived hepatitis C virus ARFP/F protein.

Genome of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains a long open reading frame encoding a polyprotein that is cleaved into 10 proteins. Recently, a novel, so called "ARFP/F", or "core+1", protein, which is expressed through a ribosomal frame shift within the capsid-coding sequence, has been described. Herein, to produce and characterize a recombinant form of this protein, the DNA sequence corresponding to the ARFP/F protein (amino acid 11-161) was amplified using a frame-shifted forward primer exploiting the capsid sequence of the 1b-subtype as a template. The amplicon was cloned into the pET-24a vector and expressed in different Escherichia coli strains. The expressed protein (mostly as insoluble inclusion bodies) was purified under denaturing conditions on a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) affinity column in a single step with a yield of 5 mg/L of culture media. After refolding steps, characterization of expressed ARFP/F was performed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot assay using specific antibodies. Antigenic properties of the protein were verified by ELISA using HCV-infected human sera and by its ability for a strong and specific interaction with sera of mice immunized with the peptide encoding a dominant ARFP/F B-cell epitope. The antigenicity plot revealed 3 major antigenic domains in the first half of the ARFP/F sequence. Immunization of BALB/c mice with the ARFP/F protein elicited high titers of IgG indicating the relevance of produced protein for induction of a humoral response. In conclusion, possibility of ARFP/F expression with a high yield and immunogenic potency of this protein in a mouse model have been demonstrated.

Secondary immunization generates clonally related antigen-specific plasma cells and memory B cells.

Rechallenge with T cell-dependent Ags induces memory B cells to re-enter germinal centers (GCs) and undergo further expansion and differentiation into plasma cells (PCs) and secondary memory B cells. It is currently not known whether the expanded population of memory B cells and PCs generated in secondary GCs are clonally related, nor has the extent of proliferation and somatic hypermutation of their precursors been delineated. In this study, after secondary tetanus toxoid (TT) immunization, TT-specific PCs increased 17- to 80-fold on days 6-7, whereas TT-specific memory B cells peaked (delayed) on day 14 with a 2- to 22-fold increase. Molecular analyses of V(H)DJ(H) rearrangements of individual cells revealed no major differences of gene usage and CDR3 length between TT-specific PCs and memory B cells, and both contained extensive evidence of somatic hypermutation with a pattern consistent with GC reactions. This analysis identified clonally related TT-specific memory B cells and PCs. Within clusters of clonally related cells, sequences shared a number of mutations but also could contain additional base pair changes. The data indicate that although following secondary immunization PCs can derive from memory B cells without further somatic hypermutation, in some circumstances, likely within GC reactions, asymmetric mutation can occur. These results suggest that after the fate decision to differentiate into secondary memory B cells or PCs, some committed precursors continue to proliferate and mutate their V(H) genes.

Internal core protein cleavage leaves the hepatitis B virus capsid intact and enhances its capacity for surface display of heterologous whole chain proteins.

Virus capsids find increasing use as nanoparticulate platforms for the surface display of heterologous ligands, including as multivalent vaccine carriers. Presentation on the icosahedral hepatitis B virus capsid (HBcAg) is known to strongly enhance immunogenicity of foreign sequences, most efficiently if they are inserted into the dominant c/e1 B cell epitope, a surface-exposed loop in the center of the constituent core protein primary sequence. Even some complete proteins were successfully inserted but others, e.g. the outer surface protein A (OspA) of the Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi, impaired formation of capsid-like particles (CLPs). This difference can be rationalized by the requirement for the termini of the insert to fit into the predetermined geometry of the two acceptor sites in the carrier. We reasoned that cleavage of one of the two bonds connecting insert and carrier should relieve these constraints, provided the cleaved protein fragments remain competent to support the particle structure. Indeed, HBcAg CLPs containing a recognition site for tobacco etch virus (TEV) protease in the c/e1 loop remained intact after cleavage, as did CLPs carrying a 65-residue peptide insertion. Most importantly, in situ cleavage of a core-OspA fusion protein by coexpressed TEV protease strongly enhanced CLP formation compared with the uncleaved protein. These data attest to the high structural stability of the HBcAg CLP and they significantly widen its applicability as a carrier for heterologous proteins. This approach should be adaptable to any protein-based particle with surface-exposed yet sequence-internal loops.

Nasal cholera toxin elicits IL-5 and IL-5 receptor alpha-chain expressing B-1a B cells for innate mucosal IgA antibody responses.

In this study, we examine whether native cholera toxin (nCT) as a mucosal adjuvant can support trinitrophenyl (TNP)-LPS-specific mucosal immune responses. C57BL/6 mice were given nasal TNP-LPS in the presence or absence of nCT. Five days later, significantly higher levels of TNP-specific mucosal IgA Ab responses were induced in the nasal washes, saliva, and plasma of mice given nCT plus TNP-LPS than in those given TNP-LPS alone. High numbers of TNP-specific IgA Ab-forming cells were also detected in mucosal tissues such as the nasal passages (NPs), the submandibular glands (SMGs), and nasopharyngeal-associated lymphoreticular tissue of mice given nCT. Flow cytometric analysis showed that higher numbers of surface IgA+, CD5+ B cells (B-1a B cells) in SMGs and NPs of mice given nasal TNP-LPS plus nCT than in those given TNP-LPS alone. Furthermore, increased levels of IL-5R alpha-chain were expressed by B-1a B cells in SMGs and NPs of mice given nasal TNP-LPS plus nCT. Thus, CD4+ T cells from these mucosal effector lymphoid tissues produce high levels of IL-5 at both protein and mRNA levels. When mice were treated with anti-IL-5 mAb, significant reductions in TNP-specific mucosal IgA Ab responses were noted in external secretions. These findings show that nasal nCT as an adjuvant enhances mucosal immune responses to a T cell-independent Ag due to the cross-talk between IL-5Ralpha+ B-1a B cells and IL-5-producing CD4+ T cells in the mucosal effector lymphoid tissues.

The protective immune response induced by B cell epitope of classical swine fever virus glycoprotein E2.

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) envelope glycoprotein E2 is a major protective immunogen responsible for eliciting neutralizing antibodies and conferring protective immunity against the virus. Based on the core sequence (TAVSPTTLR, 829-837 aa) of the B cell linear epitope of the CSFV E2 protein identified by Lin et al., two oligonucleotides MF and MR were synthesized and used to construct by PCR a gene cassette encoding a 15 amino acid polypeptide M (CTAVSPTTLRTEVVK), which spans 828-842 amino acids of E2. The gene cassette was fused in-frame to 3' terminal of glutathione S transferase gene (GST) of the prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-6p-1, resulting in the recombinant plasmid pGEX-M. After transformation into Escherichia coli BL21 a soluble fusion protein GST-M with expected size of 28 kDa was expressed after inducing with isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactoside (IPTG). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis showed that the purified GST-M had good reactivity with swine anti-CSFV serum and rabbit anti-CSFV E2 serum. Further vaccination trials showed that the fusion protein GST-M could elicit effectively immune response protecting rabbits and pigs from virulent challenge. This study showed a possibility for developing epitope-based vaccines against CSFV.

Single B or T-cell epitope-based DNA vaccine using modified vector induces specific immune response against hepadnavirus.

Epitope-based DNA vaccine is an effective and powerful approach against a variety of pathogens or tumors. In present study, we reconstructed a vector that could effectively express short B and T-cell epitope of duck/hepatitis B virus, and investigated the role of the epitope-based DNA vaccination. The pUC19 was modified by inserting the compact transient framework (CTF), including HCMV IE1 promoter, enhancer, Kozak sequence, dual stop codon and 3' terminal bovine growth hormone terminal signal and so on. This modified vector was designated pEC(K) and supposed to effectively express short peptide. A well-defined single B-cell and T-cell epitope encoding gene of duck/hepatitis B virus has been synthesized as candidate epitope and cloned into pEC(K) plasmid, respectively. Transfection of the recombinant DNA into C(2)C(12) cell showed that modified plasmid could effectively express both the single B-cell and T-cell short epitope in the culture supernatant as confirmed by dot immunoblot assay (DIA). The recombinant single B and T-cell epitope-based DNA vaccine was administrated to C57BL/6 mice and could greatly induce specific humoral and CTL response. In addition, the specific antibody against B epitope could specifically bind to the DHBV particles. This report demonstrated that single epitope-based DNA vaccine using modified plasmid vector pEC(K) could induce effective specific immune responses and could be of great use for DNA vaccines.

Cutting edge: HLA-E binds a peptide derived from the ATP-binding cassette transporter multidrug resistance-associated protein 7 and inhibits NK cell-mediated lysis.

HLA-E is an MHC class Ib molecule that binds nonamer peptides derived from the leader sequence of MHC class 1a molecules and is the major ligand for CD94/NKG2 receptors found on NK and T cells. Using the MHC class Ia-null cell line 721.221, we find that surface HLA-E increases following heat shock at 42 degrees C and NK cell-mediated lysis is inhibited using heat-stressed 721.221 targets. We have used mass spectrometry to identify and sequence a novel peptide from HLA-E following heat shock, ALALVRMLI, derived from the transmembrane domain of the human ATP-binding cassette protein, multidrug resistance-associated protein, MRP7. Pulsing 721.221 targets with synthetic MRP7 peptide results in strong inhibition of NK cell-mediated lysis that is reversible using anti-CD94 and anti-class I mAbs. This report is the first to identify a non-MHC leader inhibitory peptide bound to HLA-E and provides insight into the immunoregulatory role of HLA-E during cell stress.

A chimeric multi-human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 B cell epitope peptide vaccine mediates superior antitumor responses.

Immunotherapeutic approaches to cancer should focus on novel undertakings that modulate immune responses by synergistic enhancement of antitumor immunological parameters. Cancer vaccines should preferably be composed of multiple defined tumor Ag-specific B and T cell epitopes. To develop a multiepitope vaccine, 12 high ranking B cell epitopes were identified from the extracellular domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) oncoprotein by computer-aided analysis. Four novel HER-2 B cell epitopes were synthesized as chimeras with a promiscuous T cell epitope (aa 288-302) from the measles virus fusion protein (MVF). Two chimeric peptide vaccines, MVF HER-2(316-339) and MVF HER-2(485-503) induced high levels of Abs in outbred rabbits, which inhibited tumor cell growth. In addition, Abs induced by a combination of two vaccines, MVF HER-2(316-339) and MVF HER-2(628-647) down-modulated receptor expression and activated IFN-gamma release better than the individual vaccines. Furthermore, this multiepitope vaccine in combination with IL-12 caused a significant reduction (p = 0.004) in the number of pulmonary metastases induced by challenge with syngeneic tumor cells overexpressing HER-2. Peptide Abs targeting specific sites in the extracellular domain may be used for exploring the oncoprotein's functions. The multiepitope vaccine may have potential application in the treatment of HER-2-associated cancers.

Contribution of phospholipomannan to the surface expression of beta-1,2-oligomannosides in Candida albicans and its presence in cell wall extracts.

beta-1,2-Oligomannosides (beta-1,2-Man) derived from Candida albicans mannan have been shown to act as adhesins and to induce protective antibodies. We used monoclonal antibodies specific for beta-1,2-Man in electron, confocal, and fluorescence microscopy to study the surface expression of beta-1,2-Man epitopes. These monoclonal antibodies were also used for Western blotting of cell surface extracts to study the nature of the molecules expressing the beta-Man epitopes. Evidence was obtained for the contribution of a glycolipid, phospholipomannan (PLM), to the complex expression of beta-1,2-Man epitopes at the cell wall surfaces of yeasts grown on solid media. PLM was present in intercellular matrixes of colonies grown on agar and was detected as a contaminant in mannan batches prepared by conventional methods.

26S proteasomes and immunoproteasomes produce mainly N-extended versions of an antigenic peptide.

Protein degradation by proteasomes is the source of most antigenic peptides presented on MHC class I molecules. To determine whether proteasomes generate these peptides directly or longer precursors, we developed new methods to measure the efficiency with which 26S and 20S particles, during degradation of a protein, generate the presented epitope or potential precursors. Breakdown of ovalbumin by the 26S and 20S proteasomes yielded the immunodominant peptide SIINFEKL, but produced primarily variants containing 1-7 additional N-terminal residues. Only 6-8% of the times that ovalbumin molecules were digested was a SIINFEKL or an N-extended version produced. Surprisingly, immunoproteasomes which contain the interferon-gamma-induced beta-subunits and are more efficient in antigen presentation, produced no more SIINFEKL than proteasomes. However, the immunoproteasomes released 2-4 times more of certain N-extended versions. These observations show that the changes in cleavage specificity of immunoproteasomes influence not only the C-terminus, but also the N-terminus of potential antigenic peptides, and suggest that most MHC-presented peptides result from N-terminal trimming of larger proteasome products by aminopeptidases (e.g. the interferon-gamma-induced enzyme leucine aminopeptidase).

Expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) epitopes in human non-neural cells revealed by two anti-MBP IgM monoclonal antibodies.

Two monoclonal antibodies (1H6.2 and 45.30) were raised against MBP purified from human brain under experimental conditions that allowed MBP to retain binding to surrounding myelin lipids (human lipid-bound MBP (hLB-MBP)). 1H6.2 and 45.30 MoAbs were selected on the basis of their different binding properties to: hLB-MBP, human lipid-free-MBP (hLF-MBP) and bovine lipid-free-MBP (bLF-MBP). Although the isotype of both MoAbs was IgM, their specificity, as tested in ELISA assays against chemical haptens and unrelated protein antigens, was restricted to MBP. 1H6.2 and 45.30 MoAbs stained MBP from human brain white matter tissue extracts, as well as bLF-MBP, in Western blot assays. Both MoAbs stained oligodendrocytes and myelin in immunohistochemical analysis of white matter from human brain. Tissue sections from human peripheral nerves were labelled by 1H6.2 only, however, demonstrating that the MoAbs recognize two different epitopes. Epitopes recognized by 1H6.2 and 45.30 MoAbs were also expressed by a wide array of human non-neural cells of either normal or pathological origin, as evidenced by cytofluorimetric assays. In particular, MBP epitopes (MEs) were expressed by lymphoid cells as well as by cells which play a pivotal role in immune homeostasis and in the immune response, such as thymic epithelial cells and professional antigen-presenting cells. Both MoAbs were efficiently internalized by cells from a human B cell line, suggesting trafficking of MEs along the endocytic pathways. These findings support hypotheses regarding the role of MEs expressed by non-neural cells in establishing self-tolerance and/or in triggering the immune response against MBP antigen.

Development of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein autoreactive transgenic B lymphocytes: receptor editing in vivo after encounter of a self-antigen distinct from myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein.

We explored mechanisms involved in B cell self-tolerance against brain autoantigens in a double-transgenic mouse model carrying the Ig H-chain (introduced by gene replacement) and/or the L-chain kappa (conventional transgenic) of the mAb 8.18C5, specific for the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). Previously, we demonstrated that B cells expressing solely the MOG-specific Ig H-chain differentiate without tolerogenic censure. We show now that double-transgenic (THkappa(mog)) B cells expressing transgenic Ig H- and L-chains are subjected to receptor editing. We show that in adult mice carrying both MOG-specific Ig H- and L-chains, the frequency of MOG-binding B cells is not higher than in mice expressing solely the transgenic Ig H-chain. In fact, in THkappa(mog) double-transgenic mice, the transgenic kappa(mog) L-chain was commonly replaced by endogenous L-chains, i.e., by receptor editing. In rearrangement-deficient RAG-2(-) mice, differentiation of THkappa(mog) B cells is blocked at an immature stage (defined by the B220(low)IgM(low)IgD(-) phenotype), reflecting interaction of the autoreactive B cells with a local self-determinant. The tolerogenic structure in the bone marrow is not classical MOG, because back-crossing THkappa(mog) mice into a MOG-deficient genetic background does not lead to an increase in the proportion of MOG-binding B cells. We propose that an as yet undefined self-Ag distinct from MOG cross-reacts with the THkappa(mog) B cell receptor and induces editing of the transgenic kappa(mog) L-chain in early immature B cells without affecting the pathogenic potential of the remaining MOG-specific B cells. This phenomenon represents a particular form of chain-specific split tolerance.

Differential antigenicity of recombinant polyepitope-antigens based on loop- and helix-forming B and T cell epitopes.

To investigate a strategy for the design of chimeric antigens based on B cell epitopes (BCEs) we have genetically recombined multiple copies of loop- (L) and helix-forming (H) sequential and protective BCEs of the measles virus hemagglutinin protein (MVH) in a number of high-molecular-weight polyepitope constructs (24.5-45.5 kDa). The BCE cassettes were combined semi-randomly together with a promiscuous T cell epitope (TCE; tt830-844) to yield 13 different permutational constructs. When expressed in mammalian cells, all constructs were detectable by Western blot as distinct bands of predicted molecular weight. Flow cytometry with conformation-specific antibodies revealed the Cys-loop in two [(L(4)T(4))(2) and (L(2)T(2))(4)] and the helix conformation in one [(H(2)T(2))(4)] of the different permutational constructs. The larger constructs, containing 16 epitope cassettes, seemed more likely to express the BCEs in their native conformation than the 8-mers. In the T cell proliferation assay, constructs with a higher copy number of TCEs, such as (L(2)T(2))(4), were more antigenic, as long as tandem repeats were separated by spacers. Since the conformation of even sequential BCEs and the processing of TCEs are both sensitive to their molecular environment it is difficult to predict the antigenic properties of polyepitopes. However, with the permutational approach we have developed several polyepitope constructs [(L(4)T(4))(2), (L(2)T(2))(4), (H(2)T(2))(4)] based on complex sequential BCEs that are antigenic for both T and B cells. Several constructs induced sera that reacted with reporter peptides, demonstrating that the sequential nature of the viral epitopes was conserved in the polyepitopes. Although several sera contained antibodies directed against amino acids critical for neutralization, only one construct induced antibodies that cross-reacted with the virus. Our results show the difficulty of designing chimeric antigens based on B cell epitopes mimicking their antigenic and immunologic properties even when these are sequential in nature.

Perinatal deletion of B cells expressing surface Ig molecules that lack V(D)J-encoded determinants in the bursa of Fabricius is not due to intrafollicular competition.

During embryonic development, the avian bursa of Fabricius selects B cell precursors that have undergone productive V(D)J recombination for expansion in oligoclonal follicles. During this expansion, Ig diversity is generated by gene conversion. We have used retroviral gene transfer in vivo to introduce surface Ig molecules that lack V(D)J-encoded determinants into B cell precursors. This truncated mu heavy chain supports both B cell expansion within embryo bursal lymphoid follicles and gene conversion. We show that individual follicles can be colonized exclusively by cells expressing the truncated mu chain and lacking endogenous surface IgM, ruling out a requirement for V(D)J-encoded determinants in the establishment of bursal lymphoid follicles. In striking contrast to their normal development in the embryo, bursal cells expressing the truncated mu-chain exhibit reduced rates of cell division and increased levels of apoptosis after hatching. The level of apoptosis in individual follicles reflects the proportion of cells within the follicle that express the truncated mu-chain. In particular, high levels of apoptosis are associated with follicles containing exclusively cells expressing the truncated micro receptor. Thus, apoptotic elimination of such cells is not due to competition within the follicle by cells expressing endogenous surface IgM receptors. This provides the first direct demonstration that the regulation of B cell development in the avian bursa after hatching differs fundamentally from that seen in the embryo. The requirement for intact IgM expression when the bursa is exposed to exogenous Ag implicates a role for Ag in avian B cell development after hatching.

[Selection and recombinant expression of an immunodominant B cell epitope of HIV gp41].

A novel method was designed for disease-specific B cell epitope mapping and epitope expression in E. coli. A phage library displaying random dodecamers was biopanned first with human total IgG antibodies against HIV-1, and then non-specific phages were subtracted by HIV(-) polyclonal antibodies. After three rounds of screening, the positive phages were tested in an ELISA for their reactivity with HIV(+)-IgG and HIV(-)-IgG antibodies. Phages that showed positive reactivity with HIV(+)-IgG, but negative to HIV(-)-IgG, were selected and their displayed peptides were determined by DNA sequencing. All the 13 positive clones sequenced displayed five kinds of peptides (SPKCLGKLLCAF, THQCLGKLQCGV, SCSAKFTCTTQI, KSDCSARFMCSV, DCLKQWACEWSR) that have homology to the HIV-1 gp41(602GCSGKLICTTNV613), demonstrating there is a dominant epitope in the region.

Salmonella vaccines secreting measles virus epitopes induce protective immune responses against measles virus encephalitis.

In the present study we describe a live vaccine against measles virus (MV) infection on the basis of attenuated Salmonella typhimurium aroA secreting MV antigens via the Escherichia coli alpha-hemolysin secretion system. Two well-characterized MV epitopes, a B-cell epitope of the MV fusion protein (amino acids 404-414) and a T-cell epitope of the MV nucleocapsid protein (amino acids 79-99) were fused as single or repeating units to the C-terminal secretion signal of the E. coli hemolysin and expressed in secreted form by the attenuated S. typhimurium aroA SL7207. Immunization of MV-susceptible C3H mice revealed that S. typhimurium SL7207 secreting these antigens provoked a humoral and a cellular MV-specific immune response, respectively. Mice vaccinated orally with a combination of both recombinant S. typhimurium strains showed partial protection against a lethal MV encephalitis after intracerebral challenge with a rodent-adapted, neurotropic MV strain.