Cloning and Characterization of Leishmania Parasite Antigen Genes with Target T Cell Epitopes

本研究旨在鉴定T细胞识别的利什曼原虫抗原，克隆其基因并表征其T细胞抗原决定因子。将使用免疫化学、生化和分子生物学技术。利什曼原虫主要LRC 137 （V121）和L.主要LRC119两株，小鼠模型BALB/c H- 2k、CBA/H或C57BL/6小鼠。这个建议是基于观察到有L.主抗原被T辅助细胞识别。辅助性T细胞通过产生效应分子来发挥作用，这些效应分子主要激活巨噬细胞（L. major）并刺激致敏的T细胞毒性细胞产生特异性的细胞介导反应。从这个基础研究项目中产生的信息将通过提供抗原加工和呈递机制的信息，有助于我们对细胞和分子免疫学的一般知识。它将阐明T细胞表位的化学性质，并使我们了解T细胞表位是如何被选择用于加工和呈递的，以及它们在T辅助细胞抗原依赖性激活过程中如何与T细胞受体（TCR α / β）相互作用。

This proposal aims to identify Leishmania parasite antigens recognized by T cells and to clone their genes and characterize their T cell antigenic determinants. Immunochemical, biochemical and molecular biology techniques will be used. Two strains of Leishmania, Leishmania major LRC 137 (V121) and L. major LRC119, and the murine model BALB/c H-2K, CBA/H or C57BL/6 mice will be used. The proposal is based on the observations that there are L. major antigens that are recognized by T helper cells. The T helper cells function by producing effector molecules that primarily activate macrophages (L. major) and stimulate sensitized T cytotoxic cells to mount specific cell mediated response. Information generated from this basic research project will contribute to our general knowledge of cellular and molecular immunology by providing information on the mechanisms of antigen processing and presentation. It will shed light on the chemical properties of T cell epitopes and allow us to understand how T cell epitopes are selected for processing and presentation and how they might interact with the T cell receptor (TCR alpha/beta) during antigen dependent activation of T helper cells.