Synthetic peptides induce antibody against a host-protective antigen of Echinococcus granulosus

Abstract

The immunogenicity of four synthetic peptides was investigated in sheep. The sequences of the peptides (6, 12/13, 21/22 and 24) were derived from linear, antibody-binding epitopes of the EG95 recombinant protein, a host-protective antigen of the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. Sheep were immunised with either free peptide or peptide conjugated to diphtheria toxoid. All sheep responded to both conjugated and unconjugated forms of the peptides. For two of the four peptides (6 and 21/22), the amount of antibody elicited was significantly greater for the conjugated form of the peptides than for the corresponding unconjugated forms. For the other two peptides (12/13 and 24), peak antibody level..