Allele-specific peptide epitope strategy for vaccine development

摘要

This invention provides a method for the identification of peptides that are capable of specific binding to HLA class II heterodimers expressed from exogenous DR genes in immortalized B lymphocyte cells that do not express endogenous HLA class II genes and that do not process proteins for presentation by HLA class II proteins due to defective DM gene expression. Also provided are compositions of peptides identified according to the described methods. The invention further provides a peptide derived from the Rubella E1 protein that is capable of interacting with DRB1 type D3 heterodimers.