贝氏柯克斯体是Q热的病原体，对人和动物有极强的感染性。研发安全有效的Q热疫苗来预防贝氏柯克斯体感染仍然是公共卫生的一个重要目标。本研究基于已证明有部分保护力的Com1、Mip、P1等贝氏柯克斯体重组抗原，通过在线服务器设计它们的免疫优势性Th表位，并化学合成表位短肽。通过酶联免疫斑点（ELISPOT）、流式细胞、MTT等技术筛选刺激机体产生Th1型细胞免疫应答的表位肽。再通过基因工程法制备Th细胞表位串联融合蛋白, 并将与载体蛋白藕联并免疫C57/B6小鼠来评价其保护效能和探讨免疫保护机制。该研究将为研发新一代安全、有效的人用多肽Q热疫苗奠定理论和工作基础。

Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes chronic disease (Q fever) in both animals and humans. The development of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent Q fever remains an important public health goal.In this application, the Th epitopes of partial protective antigens Com1, Mip,P1 and etc will be designed and synthesized based on the online bioinformatics predictions.The synthesized peptides will be incubated with CD4+ T cells isolated from C57 mice.Subsequently,ELISPOT, flow cytometry, MTT assay will be used to observe Th1 response. The genes of the identified Th epitope will be ligated and cloned into expression vectors. The recombinant multi-epitope protein will be expressed and then used to immunize C57/B6 mice to evaluate its protective efficiency. The study will provide a basis for developing a new generation of safe and effective human vaccine against Q fever.