Scanning for T helper epitopes with human PBMC using pools of short synthetic peptides

Abstract

Major T helper epitopes of medically important antigens can be located by measuring the proliferative responses of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to pools of short synthetic peptides. The length and endings of the peptides used were shown to be critical for success in identifying Th cell epitopes. Many epitopes would be missed if either long (31mers) or short (less than 12mers) peptides were used. Pools of 14 and 16mers were more efficient than 12mers spanning the same region, however, for a promiscuous Th cell ipitope of tetanus toxin (tt 947-967), two of three donors tested did not respond to 18mers or shorter peptides spanning this region. Although peptides with either un..