Peptide mimotopes of carbohydrate antigens

Abstract

Carbohydrate structures have been identified as significant antigens for bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens as well as targets on human tumor cells. Many of these antigens are poorly immunogenic in humans, requiring extensive adjuvant sublimation. Although conjugate carbohydrate vaccines appear promising, there are limitations of using carbohydrate formulations. An alternative approach is to use surrogate antigens for some carbohydrates. We are developing peptides that mimic carbohydrates which might be further manipulated to induce responses that target biologically important carbohydrates expressed on pathogens and on tumor cells. We have shown that peptide mimotopes of carbohydrates induce immune responses to carbohydrate structures with in vivo and vitro functionality. Model systems include the Neisseria group C meningococcal polysaccharide; the histo-blood group-related antigens expressed on tumor cells; and mannose, sialyl, and histo-blood group-related carbohydrate epitopes expressed on human immunodeficiency virus.

High Affinity Mimotope of the Polysaccharide Capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans Identified from an Evolutionary Phage Peptide Library

“…There is abundant evidence that peptides can serve as mimics and even mimotopes for carbohydrate Ags (42,43). As reported by Scott et al (44,45), there appears to be a difference between a structural mimic and an immunologically functional mimic.…”

Similarity between Protein–Protein and Protein–Carbohydrate Interactions, Revealed by Two Crystal Structures of Lectins from the Roots of Pokeweed

“…15 -17 Moreover, the molecular mimicry of carbohydrate and peptide is a current topic of considerable interest. 18,19 For legume lectins, which are considered a model system for the protein -carbohydrate interaction, carbohydrate-mimicking peptides have been developed as potent inhibitors against carbohydrate-specific proteins for the purpose of pharmacological applications. 20 -22 Thus, studies on protein -protein and protein -peptide interactions in lectins as well as protein-carbohydrate interaction have been attracting the interest of researchers.…”

The Guillain–Barré syndrome: a true case of molecular mimicry

“…Finally, to complicate matters even further, so called mimotopes have been described. These are peptides that are bound by either antibodies or T cells directed against unrelated antigens, for example, carbohydrates, suggesting that cross-reactivity can be induced by biochemically distinct molecules [21].…”