Prediction of T Cell Epitopes from Leishmania major Potentially Excreted/Secreted Proteins Inducing Granzyme B Production

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 1; p. e0147076
• Main Authors: Naouar, Ikbel, Boussoffara, Thouraya, Chenik, Mehdi, Gritli, Sami, Ben Ahmed, Melika, Belhadj Hmida, Nabil, Bahi-Jaber, Narges, Bardi, Rafika, Gorgi, Yousr, Ben Salah, Afif, Louzir, Hechmi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 15.01.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Antigenic determinants; Antigens; Antigens, Protozoan - chemistry; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Broadway theater; Cell Line, Tumor; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Cytotoxicity; Elongation; Epitopes; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte - immunology; Female; Gene expression; Granzyme B; Granzymes - metabolism; Histocompatibility antigen HLA; HLA antigens; HLA-A2 Antigen - metabolism; Hospitals; Human health and pathology; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Immunogenicity; Immunology; Infections; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Interleukin-10 - metabolism; Laboratories; Leishmania; Leishmania donovani; Leishmania major; Leishmania major - immunology; Leukocytes (mononuclear); Life Sciences; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Male; Middle Aged; Nicolle, Charles (1866-1936); Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Peptides; Peptides - chemistry; Peptides - immunology; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Phosphatase; Predictions; Protein Binding; Proteins; Tropical diseases; Vaccines; Vector-borne diseases; Missouri; Tunisia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147076

Leishmania-specific cytotoxic T cell response is part of the acquired immune response developed against the parasite and contributes to resistance to reinfection. Herein, we have used an immune-informatic approach for the identification, among Leishmania major potentially excreted/secreted proteins previously described, those generating peptides that could be targeted by the cytotoxic immune response. Seventy-eight nonameric peptides that are predicted to be loaded by HLA-A*0201 molecule were generated and their binding capacity to HLA-A2 was evaluated. These peptides were grouped into 20 pools and their immunogenicity was evaluated by in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HLA-A2+-immune individuals with a history of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Six peptides were identified according to their ability to elicit production of granzyme B. Furthermore, among these peptides 3 showed highest affinity to HLA-A*0201, one derived from an elongation factor 1-alpha and two from an unknown protein. These proteins could constitute potential vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis.