MODULATION OF IMMUNE RESPONSE BY PROTEIN FRAGMENTS

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R01 · $137,299 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

This study attempts to elucidate the relationship between the structural and immunological properties of substructures of a complex protein molecule, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), and provide information on how the immune system recognizes and responds to such molecule. Highly purified fragments of BSA have been isolated and have been shown to be poorly immunogenic but highly immunomodulating. The individual antigenic fragments carry unique determinants not shared with other fragments. A single antigenic fragment, however, has the capacity to suppress immuno response to the entire BSA molecule which seem to indicate that the regulation of immunosuppression is not dependent on serological determinants but on some other presently unknown property of the fragment. To further characterize distinct epitopes monoclonal antibodies to defined antigenic fragments using hybridoma technology will be used. These antibodies will be a source for investigating cross-reactivity of idiotypes. We shall also attempt to clarify the relationship between idiotypic and antigenic effects and specify at which cell level epitopes or idiotypes influence immune response to BSA molecule.

Key facts

NIH application ID
3126225
Project number
5R01AI015520-08
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
SAM.gov UEI
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Principal Investigator
GABRIEL G MICHAEL
Activity code
R01
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
1987
Award amount
$137,299
Award type
5
Project period
1979-09-15 → 1989-04-30