In silico predicted epitopes from the COOH-terminal extension of cysteine proteinase B inducing distinct immune responses during <it>Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis </it>experimental murine infection

• Main Authors: Pereira Bernardo AS, Silva Franklin S, Rebello Karina M, Marín-Villa Marcel, Traub-Cseko Yara M, Andrade Thereza CB, Bertho Álvaro L, Caffarena Ernesto R, Alves Carlos R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-08-01
• Series: BMC Immunology
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2172/12/44

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Leishmania </it>parasites have been reported to interfere and even subvert their host immune responses to enhance their chances of survival and proliferation. Experimental <it>Leishmania </it>infection in mice has been widely used in the identification of specific parasite virulence factors involved in the interaction with the host immune system. Cysteine-proteinase B (CPB) is an important virulence factor in parasites from the <it>Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana </it>complex: it inhibits lymphocytes Th1 and/or promotes Th2 responses either through proteolytic activity or through epitopes derived from its COOH-terminal extension. In the present study we analyzed the effects of <it>Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis </it>CPB COOH-terminal extension-derived peptides on cell cultures from murine strains with distinct levels of susceptibility to infection: BALB/c, highly susceptible, and CBA, mildly resistant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Predicted epitopes, obtained by <it>in silico </it>mapping, displayed the ability to induce cell proliferation and expression of cytokines related to Th1 and Th2 responses. Furthermore, we applied <it>in silico </it>simulations to investigate how the MHC/epitopes interactions could be related to the immunomodulatory effects on cytokines, finding evidence that specific interaction patterns can be related to <it>in vitro </it>activities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on our results, we consider that some peptides from the CPB COOH-terminal extension may influence host immune responses in the murine infection, thus helping <it>Leishmania </it>survival.</p>