IMMUNOGENICITY AND ANTIGENICITY OF SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES DERIVED FROM THE MITE ALLERGEN-DER-P-I

As an immunogen must contain both B- and T-cell epitopes, small peptid es are usually reported as non-immunogenic unless coupled to a protein carrier. In this study, the immunogenicity of the Der p I synthetic u ncoupled peptides (p52-71, p89-104, p 117-133 and p 176-187) previousl y reported as B-cell epitopes, was evaluated. Different schedules of i mmunization were used. Results indicated that by using the Vaitukaikis ' method three injections of the same peptide without protein carrier was sufficient to induce an specific anti-peptide IgG antibody respons e (evaluated by ELISA). Indeed, the 16-20 amino-acid long peptides p52 -71, p 117-133 and p89-104 were revealed highly immunogenic in rabbits . Furthermore anti-peptide p52-71 and pl 17-133 antibodies were shown by Western-blotting or by neutralization assay to recognize the Der p I molecule either in denaturated or native form as well as Der f I (ma jor allergen of Dermatophagoides farinae). Finally, taking into accoun t the location of Der p I-derived peptides in the three-dimensional mo del of Der p I, the antigenicity and immunogenicity of peptides were d iscussed.