Lrr. Castellobranco et al., A METHOD TO SCREEN T-LYMPHOCYTE EPITOPES AFTER ORAL IMMUNIZATION OF HUMANS - APPLICATION TO CHOLERA-TOXIN B-SUBUNIT, Vaccine, 13(9), 1995, pp. 817-820
The response to oral immunisation of humans with classical biotype cho
lera toxin B subunit was studied to identify immunodominant T lymphocy
te determinants. The in vitro proliferative response to pools of 12-me
r peptides and larger peptides used individually was analysed by a nov
el statistical approach, and identified an immunodominant region in re
sidues 70-79 in immunised subjects, when either pools or individual pe
ptides were employed In contrast, a patient infected with El Tor bioty
pe had a dominant response to residues 40-60. The statistical software
employed in this study may enable efficient screening of antigens for
immunodominant T lymphocyte determinants when blood precursor frequen
cies are low following immunisation, and may therefore be of special r
elevance to mucosal vaccines.