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Title: THE POTENTIAL OF RETRO-INVERSO PEPTIDES AS SYNTHETIC VACCINES

Author
item VAN REGENMORTEL, M-H - INST DE BIOLOGIE, FRANCE
item GUICHARD, G - INST DE BIOLOGIE, FRANCE
item BENKIRANE, N - INST DE BIOLOGIE, FRANCE
item BRIAND, J-P - INST DE BIOLOGIE, FRANCE
item MULLER, S - INST DE BIOLOGIE, FRANCE
item Brown, Fred

Submitted to: Developments in Biological Standardization
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/13/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The potential of peptides as immunogens has been the subject of much research during the past two decades, since the methods for nucleic acid sequencing became available. This technology has been used extensively in FMD research and a peptide corresponding to the major immunogenic site on the virus particle has been shown to elicit protective levels of neutralizing antibodies in experimental animals and susceptible species. In an extension of this work, the concept of using peptides synthesized from D-amino acids has been explored. The results with the immunogenic peptide of FMDV are highly encouraging.

Technical Abstract: Retro-inverso (RI) peptides, also called all-D-retro peptides, have been shown to mimic the antigenic and immunogenic properties of L-peptides successfully. RI peptides corresponding to the loop 141-159 of the VP1 protein of FMDV have been synthesized and used to immunize rabbits and guinea pigs. These peptides induced longer-lasting and higher antibody titers in immunized animals than did the corresponding L-peptides and the antibodies cross-reacted strongly with virus particles and with L-peptides. Antisera raised to RI peptides had in vitro virus neutralization titres equal to or better than those obtained after immunization with classical FMDV antigens and L-peptides. In view of their increased stability, RI peptides may overcome some of the shortcomings of synthetic viral vaccines based on L-peptides.