Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, Vol. 26, No. 5, 2000, р . 291

Induction of Antimeningitis Immunity by the Synthetic Peptides: I. The Immunoactive Synthetic Fragments of Porin A from Neisseria meningitidis

D. O. Koroev* ¹ , O. V. Kotelnikova*, O. M. Volpina*, M. N. Zhmak*, M. A. Kuprianova*, S. A. Agafonova*, A. P. Alliluev**, I. S. Litvinov*, V. A. Nesmeyanov*, and V. T. Ivanov*

*Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Mikluho-Maklaya 16/10, Moscow, GSP-7, 117871 Russia, ** Institute of General and Clinical Pathology, Peoples Friendship University of Russia , ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 6, Moscow , 117198 Russia

Abstract: Fourteen peptides corresponding to sequences of all the exposed and some of the transmembrane protein regions of porin A from the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis strain B:15:P1.7,16 were synthesized. Mice of various lines were immunized with the free peptides not conjugated with any protein carrier. It was shown that the majority of the peptides possess immunogenic properties. Two peptides were identified binding to antibodies present in the serum of mice after meningitis. Protective properties of a number of the synthesized peptides were studied, and three peptide sequences inducing mice protection to an experimental infection with N. meningitidis were identified.

Key words: Neisseria meningitidis; porin A; synthetic peptides, immunogenicity, protective activity

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, Vol. 26, No. 12, 2000, р . 832

Synthetic Peptide Constructs on the Basis of Immunoactive Fragments of the A ₂₂ Strain VP ₁ of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

M. A. Kuprianova*, ¹ M. N. Zhmak*, D. O. Koroev*, A. V. Chepurkin**, O. M. Volpina*, and V. T. Ivanov*

*Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, GSP-7 Moscow , 117871 Russia , **All-Russia Research Institute of Animal Protection, Vladimir , Russia

Abstracts—Peptide constructs consisting of 44–53 aa were synthesized on the basis of sequences 135–159, 170–190 and 197–213 of VP₁ from the foot-and-mouse disease ₂₂ strain. Immunogenic and protective properties of the peptide constructs were studied in guinea pigs and mice of three lines. The constructs were shown to induce higher levels of antibodies and exhibit higher protective effects than the separate peptides. The most active among the peptides studied was the construct involving the VP₁ fragments 135–160 and 170–190: it protected pigs from the experimental infection by the foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Key words: immunogenicity, peptides, synthetic constructs; protective effect against the foot-and-mouth disease virus

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, Vol. 27, No. 1, 2001, р . 17

Induction of Anti-Meningitis Immunity by Synthetic Peptides: II. ¹ Immunoactive Synthetic Fragments of the OpaB Protein from Neisseria meningitidis

D. O. Koroev* ² , O. M. Volpina*, M. N. Zhmak*, M. A. Kupriyanova*, V. A. Nesmeyanov*, A. P. Alliluev**, O. V. Kotel’nikova*, and V. T. Ivanov*

*Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, GSP-7, Moscow, 117871 Russia, ** Institute of General and Clinical Pathology, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia , ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 6, Moscow , 117198 Russia

Abstract: Mice of various lines were immunized by 11 synthetic peptides that correspond to the sequences of fragments of the OpaB protein from the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis involving the known human T-helper epitopes and all the potential mouse T-helper epitopes calculated for the protein. The mice were immunized with the free peptides without their conjugation with a protein carrier. Most of the peptides were found to induce in mice the production of antipeptide antibodies. Mice protection against the experimental infection by a virulent strain of N. meningitidis of the B serotype was studied, and two peptides were shown to exert the most pronounced protective effect.

Key words: Neisseria meningitidis, OpaB, synthetic peptides, immunogenicity, protective effect

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, Vol. 27, No. 3, 2001, р . 151

Synthesis, Immunogenicity, and Antigenicity of the Glycoprotein E Fragments of the Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus

T. D. Volkova*, ¹ O. M. Vol’pina*, M. N. Zhmak*, V. T. Ivanov*, M. F. Vorovich**, and A. V. Timofeev**

*Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, GSP Moscow , 117997 Russia , **Chumakov Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow , 142782 Russia

Abstract: Six peptide fragments of the envelope protein E of the tick-borne encephalitis virus involving the predicted T-helper epitopes were synthesized. Their ability to induce antibodies without conjugation with any high-molecular-mass carrier was studied in mice of three lines. Five of six synthesized peptides exhibited immunogenic properties, which differed in dependence on the haplotype of immunized mice. The peptide binding to the antiviral antibodies was studied, and two peptides were revealed that demonstrated a high ability to recognize the viral antibodies in the horse and human sera. These peptides are promising for the development of diagnostic agents for the tick-borne encephalitis virus.

Key words: antigenicity, B-epitopes, immunogenicity, synthetic peptides, T-helper epitopes, tick-borne encephalitis virus

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, Vol. 27, No. 5, 2001, р . 311

Antibodies against Synthetic Fragments of the Prion Protein for Diagnostics of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

O. M. Volpina*, ¹ M. N. Zhmak*, M. B. Oboznaya*, M. A. Titova*, D. O. Koroev*, T. D. Volkova*, A. A. Egorov**, S. S. Rybakov**, and V. T. Ivanov*

*Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, GSP Moscow, 117997 Russia, **All-Russia Research Institute of Plant Protection, Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Vladimir, Russia

Abstract: Seven peptides matching fragments of the prion protein and containing from 17 to 31 amino acid residues were synthesized to obtain antibodies for diagnostics of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Rabbits were immunized with either free peptides or peptide–protein conjugates to result in sera with a high level of antipeptide antibodies. Immunohistochemical assay revealed sera against four free peptides and a protein–peptide conjugate, which effectively bind to the pathogenic isoform of the prion protein in brain tissue preparations from cattle afflicted with bovine spongiform encephalopathy and do not interact with normal brain preparations. The resulting antipeptide sera can be used in developing a diagnostic kit for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Key words: antibodies, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, immunohistochemical assay, prion, synthetic peptide