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In silico and in vitro Evaluation of Mimetic Peptides as Potential Antigen Candidates for Prophylaxis of Leishmaniosis

Authors :
Deborah Carbonera Guedes
Manuel Hospinal Santiani
Joyce Carvalho
Carlos Ricardo Soccol
João Carlos Minozzo
Ricardo Andrez Machado de Ávila
Juliana Ferreira de Moura
Eliezer Lucas Pires Ramos
Guillermo Raul Castro
Carlos Chávez-Olórtegi
Vanete Thomaz-Soccol
Source :
Frontiers in Chemistry, Vol 8 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.

Abstract

Antigen formulation is the main feature for the success of leishmaniosis diagnosis and vaccination, since the disease is caused by different parasite species that display particularities which determine their pathogenicity and virulence. It is desirable that the antigens are recognized by different antibodies and are immunogenic for almost all Leishmania species. To overcome this problem, we selected six potentially immunogenic peptides derived from Leishmania histones and parasite membrane molecules obtained by phage display or spot synthesis and entrapped in liposome structures. We used these peptides to immunize New Zealand rabbits and determine the immunogenic capacity of the chimeric antigen. The peptides induced the production of antibodies as a humoral immune response against L. braziliensis or L. infantum. Next, to evaluate the innate response to induce cellular activation, macrophages from the peptide mix-immunized rabbits were infected in vitro with L. braziliensis or L. infantum. The peptide mix generated the IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-4 and TGF-β that led to Th1 and Th2 cellular immune responses. Interestingly, this mix of peptides also induced high expression of iNOS. These results suggest that the mix of peptides derived from histone and parasites membrane molecules was able to mimic parasites proteins and induce cytokines important to CD4+ T cell Th1 and Th2 differentiation and effector molecule to control the parasite infection. Finally, this peptide induced an immune balance that is important to prevent immunopathological disorders, inflammatory reactions, and control the parasite infection.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22962646
Volume :
8
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Chemistry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.21a5ba02dd74e30bacd599898b91937
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2020.601409