Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.21.69 (APC)
 16,337 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

No vaccine is yet available against serogroup B meningococci, which are a common cause of bacterial meningitis. Some outer membrane proteins (OMP), LPS, and capsular polysaccharides have been identified as protective Ag. The amino acid sequence of the protective B cell epitopes present within the class 1 OMP has been described recently. Synthetic peptides containing OMP B cell epitopes as well as capsular polysaccharides or LPS protective B cell epitopes have to be presented to the immune system in association with T cell epitopes to achieve an optimal Ir. The use of homologous, i.e., meningococcal, T cell epitopes has many advantages. We therefore investigated recognition sites for human T cells within the meningococcal class 1 OMP. We have synthesized 16 class 1 OMP-derived peptides encompassing predicted T cell epitopes. Peptides corresponding to both surface loops and trans-membrane regions (some of which occur as amphipathic beta-sheets) of the class 1 OMP were found to be recognized by T cells. In addition, 10 of 11 peptides containing predicted amphipathic alpha-helices and four of five peptides containing T cell epitope motifs according to Rothbard and Taylor (Rothbard, J. B., and W. R. Taylor. 1988. EMBO J 7:93) were recognized by lymphocytes from one or more volunteers. Some of the T and B cell epitopes were shown to map to identical regions of the protein. At least six of the peptides that were found to contain T cell epitopes show homology to constant regions of the meningococcal class 3 OMP and the gonococcal porins PIA and PIB. Peptide-specific T cell lines and T cell clones were established to investigate peptide recognition in more detail. The use of a panel of HLA-typed APC revealed clear HLA-DR restriction patterns. It seems possible now to develop a (semi-) synthetic meningococcal vaccine with a limited number of constant T cell epitopes that cover all HLA-DR locus products.
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PMID:T cell recognition of Neisseria meningitidis class 1 outer membrane proteins. Identification of T cell epitopes with selected synthetic peptides and determination of HLA restriction elements. 171 91

We describe the first reported case of gonococcal septic shock with associated acute respiratory distress syndrome and multisystem organ failure, in which the patient made a full recovery, and add to the paucity of descriptive literature on gonococcal sepsis. The case was a 36-year-old previously healthy Aboriginal female from northern Canada. Treatment included fluid resuscitation, vasoactive drugs, mechanical ventilation, antimicrobial therapy, corticosteroid replacement, activated protein C, and general supportive care. In addition to being the first reported case of gonococcal septic shock with associated acute respiratory distress syndrome and multisystem organ failure in which the patient made a full clinical recovery this is also the first case of gonococcal septic shock treated with activated protein C; an association between its use and the favorable outcome is postulated, but cannot be confirmed.
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PMID:Gonococcal septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multisystem organ failure: a case report. 2004 69