Antibody isotype and epitope specificities were examined in sheep immunized
with EG95, a protective recombinant vaccine against hydatid disease. All s
heep immunized with EG95 as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase
(GST) produced prominent IgG antibodies against the EG95 portion of the pr
otein. Linear antibody-binding epitope specificities of EG95 were mapped us
ing a series of 25 overlapping synthetic peptides. Three immunodominant reg
ions were identified which generated specific IgG(1) and IgG(2) antibodies
in the majority of vaccinated sheep. These regions corresponded to the EG95
-derived sequences SLKAVNPSDPLVYKRQTAKF, DIETPRAGKKESTVMTSGSA mid SALTSAIAG
FVFSC. An additional immunogenic region was identified which induced almost
exclusively IgG(2) antibody. This epitope was located within the sequence
TETPLRKHFNLTPV. The anti-parasitic, protective effects of the EG95 vaccine
correlated with the detection of specific antibody to two or more of the fo
ur linear immunogenic regions. The identification of these immunogenic pept
ides of EG95 may be useful in the development of a synthetic peptide vaccin
e as a derivative of the EG95 recombinant.