SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES IN THE DETERMINATION OF HEPATITIS-A VIRUS T-CELL EPITOPES

Computer search for probable T-epitopes of hepatitis A virus capsid pr oteins was performed using an integrated set of programs. Eight segmen ts of the VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4 proteins were chosen and synthesised. Five peptides previously examined as probable B-epitopes were used as well. All the peptides were tested for their ability to stimulate prol iferation of lymph node T-cells primed with synthetic peptides. Almost all predicted T-epitopes affected the T-cell proliferation. None of t he peptides had mitogenic activity. We demonstrated that regions 17-33 and 276-298 of VP1 are possible immunodominant promiscuous sites acti vating lymphocytes of all mouse haplotypes.