Identification of epitopes on intact encapsulated bacterial cells suitable for vaccine development.
In 2015 Lagousi et al. published a paper reporting the identification of epitopes of pneumococcal virulence proteins (PnVPs) for the development of vaccines. Lagousi et al. mapped novel immunodominant epitopes on six surface PnVPs using synthetic peptides. Synthetic 20mer peptides overlapping by six amino acid residues were used for this study. The scientist could show that these epitopes were highly conserved, specific for invasive pneumococcal disease, and localized in functional domains of PnVPs. Epitopes reactive on the surface of intact encapsulated bacterial cells that could be suitable for vaccine development were identified.
Lagousi T, Routsias J, Piperi C, Tsakris A, Chrousos G, Theodoridou M, Spoulou V.; Discovery of Immunodominant B Cell Epitopes within Surface Pneumococcal Virulence Proteins in Pediatric Patients with Invasive Pneumococcal Disease. J Biol Chem. 2015 Nov 13;290(46):27500-10. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.666818. Epub 2015 Sep 22. PMID: 26396191