Exploring immunological specificity using synthetic peptide combinatorial libraries

C Pinilla, R Martin, B Gran, JR Appel… - Current Opinion in …, 1999 - Elsevier
C Pinilla, R Martin, B Gran, JR Appel, C Boggiano, DB Wilson, RA Houghten
Current Opinion in Immunology, 1999Elsevier
The definition of epitopes for human B and T cells is fundamental for the understanding of
the immune response mechanism and its role in the prevention and cause of human
disease. This understanding can be applied to the design of diagnostics and synthetic
vaccines. In recent years, the understanding of the specificity of B and T cells has been
advanced significantly by the development and use of combinatorial libraries made up of
thousands to millions of synthetic peptides. The use of this approach has had four major …
The definition of epitopes for human B and T cells is fundamental for the understanding of the immune response mechanism and its role in the prevention and cause of human disease. This understanding can be applied to the design of diagnostics and synthetic vaccines. In recent years, the understanding of the specificity of B and T cells has been advanced significantly by the development and use of combinatorial libraries made up of thousands to millions of synthetic peptides. The use of this approach has had four major effects: first, the definition of high affinity ligands both for T cells and antibodies; second, the application of alternative means for identifying immunologically relevant peptides for use as potential preventive and therapeutic vaccines; third, a new appreciation of the requirements for TCR interactions with peptide-MHC complexes in immunogenicity; fourth, the establishment of new principles regarding the level of cross-reactivity in immunological recognition.
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