Mimotope

Mimotopes (of English. Mimic, imitate, and epitope ) are artificially produced peptides or small proteins that mimic the structural identifying an antigen, called epitopes. Mimotopes are used as models of specific antibodies detected and, depending on the modification, trigger a defined immune response. The activated immune system recognizes of mimotopes in a cross-reaction of both the triggering mimotope as well as serving as a model antigen. Mimotopes are therefore particularly suitable for generating an immune response against unknown antigens or antigens without sufficient intrinsic immunogenicity. Mimotopes shall inter alia provide a potential option for cancer immunotherapy dar.

Properties

Mimotopes are peptides with a chain length of 6 to 20 amino acids. This chain length is the minimum size of a peptide that is required for a humoral and cellular immune response. Due to its low molecular mass mimotopes have a high heat and cold resistance. In addition, they can be produced because of its simplicity by conventional methods of peptide chemistry in a large amount.

Production

Mimotopes can be obtained by using a target antigen recognized by the antibody with the aid of display techniques such as phage display. In this biotechnological method are large protein encoded by bacteriophage molecule libraries that usually contain several billion different encoded peptides searched for antibody - binding peptides. Mimotopes thus obtained can be further modified. For example, using a multimerization often increase their effectiveness and the immune response are purposefully controlled by conjugation.

Application

Mimotopes are at a very experimental application. In addition, a medical use for a variety of applications, including the treatment of allergy, infectious diseases and cancer, is discussed. Mimotope -based vaccines are in preclinical development.

Of particular interest is the possibility of generating an immune response against antigens without sufficient own immunogenicity with the aid of mimotopes. Characteristic structure polysaccharide and lipid epitopes on antigens of many pathogens and tumor cells will be detected by the immune system, but do not lead to T -cell-mediated immune response. Immune responses against these antigens are limited and do not lead to the formation of memory cells and affinity- matured antibodies.

As for the production of a mimotope only one antibody must be available, but no information about the antigen to be detected is necessary, these peptides are also suitable for the production of potential immunotherapeutics against unknown targets. Similarly, mimotopes are suitable as potential vaccines for antigens, due to their molecular size can not be produced in one for the direct active immunization sufficient quantity, for example.