Synthesis of a disulfide-linked octameric peptide construct carrying threedifferent antigenic determinants

In an effort to develop peptide vaccines against the influenza virus, we ha ve successfully synthesized a disulfide-linked octameric homodimer that bea rs four copies of the influenza virus M2 protein ectodomain as well as two copies each of T-helper cell hemagglutinin epitopes, the I-E-d restricted S 1 and the I-A(d) restricted S2 fragments. Peptide attachment was via interm olecular disulfide formation from free sulfhydryl-bearing cysteine derivati ves in solution. This reaction was efficient only when the amino-group of t he cysteine was Fmoc-protected. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.