Rapid epitope identification from complex class-II-restricted T-cell antigens

The identification of CD4(+) T-cell epitopes is a laborious and tedious pro cess. Various computer-assisted algorithms have been designed to assist in this process by predicting potential MHC-binding epitopes. Recently, the no vel approach of using soluble MHC class II tetramers as a tool to identify T-cell epitopes has been developed successfully. We show that the T-cell ep itopes identified using MHC tetramers are also predicted by a computer-assi sted algorithm to bind to the same MHC molecule. We propose that epitope ma pping using the MHC-tetramer-guided approach, in conjunction with predictiv e computer algorithms, will allow the rapid identification of T-cell epitop es from large proteins.