Adaptation of an R5 Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Encoding an HIV Clade A Envelope with or without Ablation of Adaptive Host Immunity: Differential Selection of Viral Mutants.

Simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection in rhesus macaques (RMs) resembles human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in humans and serves as a tool to evaluate candidate AIDS vaccines. HIV-1 clade A (HIV-A) predominates in parts of Africa. We constructed an R5 clade A SHIV (SHIV-A; strain SHIV-KNH1144) carrying env from a Kenyan HIV-A. SHIV-A underwent rapid serial passage through six RMs. To allow unbridled replication without adaptive immunity, we simultaneously ablated CD8+ and B cells with cytotoxic monoclonal antibodies in the next RM, resulting in extremely high viremia and CD4+ T-cell loss. Infected blood was then transferred into two non-immune-depleted RMs, where progeny SHIV-A showed increased replicative capacity and caused AIDS. We reisolated SHIV-KNH1144p4, which was replication competent in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of all RMs tested. Next-generation sequencing of early- and late-passage SHIV-A strains identified mutations that arose due to "fitness" virus optimization in the former and mutations exhibiting signatures typical for adaptive host immunity in the latter. "Fitness" mutations are best described as mutations that allow for better fit of the HIV-A Env with SIV-derived virion building blocks or host proteins and mutations in noncoding regions that accelerate virus replication, all of which result in the outgrowth of virus variants in the absence of adaptive T-cell and antibody-mediated host immunity.IMPORTANCE In this study, we constructed a simian-human immunodeficiency virus carrying an R5 Kenyan HIV-1 clade A env (SHIV-A). To bypass host immunity, SHIV-A was rapidly passaged in naive macaques or animals depleted of both CD8+ and B cells. Next-generation sequencing identified different mutations that resulted from optimization of viral replicative fitness either in the absence of adaptive immunity or due to pressure from adaptive immune responses.

PyLAT: Python LAMMPS Analysis Tools.

Reproducibility and accuracy have become increasingly important issues for the molecular simulation community. The availability of validated open-source postprocessing tools to analyze simulation trajectories and compute properties is key to helping researchers conduct more accurate and reproducible simulations. Here we describe a suite of open-source Python-based postprocessing routines we have developed called PyLAT. PyLAT is compatible with the popular molecular dynamics package LAMMPS and enables users to compute viscosities, self-diffusivities, ionic conductivities, molecule or ion pair lifetimes, dielectric constants, and radial distribution functions using best-practice methods.

Novel biopanning strategy to identify epitopes associated with vaccine protection.

Identifying immune correlates of protection is important to develop vaccines against infectious diseases. We designed a novel, universally applicable strategy to profile the antibody (Ab) repertoire of protected vaccine recipients, using recombinant phages encoding random peptide libraries. The new approach, termed "protection-linked (PL) biopanning," probes the Ab paratopes of protected vaccinees versus those with vaccine failure. As proof of concept, we screened plasma samples from vaccinated rhesus macaques (RMs) that had completely resisted multiple mucosal challenges with R5-tropic simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs). The animals had been immunized with a multicomponent vaccine (multimeric HIV-1 gp160, HIV-1 Tat, and SIV Gag-Pol particles). After PL biopanning, we analyzed the phagotopes selected for amino acid homologies; in addition to the expected Env mimotopes, one recurring motif reflected the neutralizing Ab epitope at the N terminus (NT) of HIV-1 Tat. Subsequent binding and functional assays indicated that anti-Tat NT Abs were present only in completely or partially protected RMs; peak viremia of the latter was inversely correlated with anti-Tat NT Ab titers. In contrast, highly viremic, unvaccinated controls did not develop detectable Abs against the same epitope. Based upon the protective effect observed in vivo, we suggest that Tat should be included in multicomponent HIV-1 vaccines. Our data highlight the power of the new PL-biopanning strategy to identify Ab responses with significant association to vaccine protection, regardless of the mechanism(s) or targets of the protective Abs. PL biopanning is also unbiased with regard to pathogens or disease model, making it a universal tool.

Live-virus exposure of vaccine-protected macaques alters the anti-HIV-1 antibody repertoire in the absence of viremia.

BACKGROUND: We addressed the question whether live-virus challenges could alter vaccine-induced antibody (Ab) responses in vaccinated rhesus macaques (RMs) that completely resisted repeated exposures to R5-tropic simian-human immunodeficiency viruses encoding heterologous HIV clade C envelopes (SHIV-Cs). RESULTS: We examined the Ab responses in aviremic RMs that had been immunized with a multi-component protein vaccine (multimeric HIV-1 gp160, HIV-1 Tat and SIV Gag-Pol particles) and compared anti-Env plasma Ab titers before and after repeated live-virus exposures. Although no viremia was ever detected in these animals, they showed significant increases in anti-gp140 Ab titers after they had encountered live SHIVs. When we investigated the dynamics of anti-Env Ab titers during the immunization and challenge phases further, we detected the expected, vaccine-induced increases of Ab responses about two weeks after the last protein immunization. Remarkably, these titers kept rising during the repeated virus challenges, although no viremia resulted. In contrast, in vaccinated RMs that were not exposed to virus, anti-gp140 Ab titers declined after the peak seen two weeks after the last immunization. These data suggest boosting of pre-existing, vaccine-induced Ab responses as a consequence of repeated live-virus exposures. Next, we screened polyclonal plasma samples from two of the completely protected vaccinees by peptide phage display and designed a strategy that selects for recombinant phages recognized only by Abs present after - but not before - any SHIV challenge. With this "subtractive biopanning" approach, we isolated V3 mimotopes that were only recognized after the animals had been exposed to live virus. By detailed epitope mapping of such anti-V3 Ab responses, we showed that the challenges not only boosted pre-existing binding and neutralizing Ab titers, but also induced Abs targeting neo-antigens presented by the heterologous challenge virus. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-Env Ab responses induced by recombinant protein vaccination were altered by the multiple, live SHIV challenges in vaccinees that had no detectable viral loads. These data may have implications for the interpretation of "vaccine only" responses in clinical vaccine trials.

A LiTat 1.5 variant surface glycoprotein-derived peptide with diagnostic potential for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of a peptide, corresponding to the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) LiTat 1.5 amino acid (AA) sequence 268-281 and identified through alignment of monoclonal antibody selected mimotopes, for diagnosis of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense sleeping sickness. METHODS: A synthetic biotinylated peptide (peptide 1.5/268-281), native VSG LiTat 1.3 and VSG LiTat 1.5 were tested in an indirect ELISA with 102 sera from patients with HAT and 102 endemic HAT-negative controls. RESULTS: The area under the curve (AUC) of peptide 1.5/268-281 was 0.954 (95% confidence interval 0.918-0.980), indicating diagnostic potential. The areas under the curve of VSG LiTat 1.3 and LiTat 1.5 were 1.000 (0.982-1.000) and 0.997 (0.973-1.000), respectively, and significantly higher than the AUC of peptide 1.5/268-281. On a model of VSG LiTat 1.5, peptide 1.5/268-281 was mapped near the top of the VSG. CONCLUSIONS: A biotinylated peptide corresponding to AA 268-281 of VSG LiTat 1.5 may replace the native VSG in serodiagnostic tests, but the diagnostic accuracy is lower than for the full-length native VSG LiTat 1.3 and VSG LiTat 1.5.

Core-shell catalysts consisting of nanoporous cores for oxygen reduction reaction.

A comprehensive experimental study was conducted on the dealloying of PdNi6 nanoparticles under various conditions. A two-stage dealloying protocol was developed to leach >95% of Ni while minimizing the dissolution of Pd. The final structure of the dealloyed particle was strongly dependent on the acid used and temperature. When H2SO4 and HNO3 solutions were used in the first stage of dealloying, solid and porous particles were generated, respectively. The porous particles have a 3-fold higher electrochemical surface area per Pd mass than the solid ones. The dealloyed PdNi6 nanoparticles were then used as a core material for the synthesis of core-shell catalysts. These catalysts were synthesized in gram-size batches and involved Pt displacement of an underpotentially deposited (UPD) Cu monolayer. The resulting materials were characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD). The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of the core-shell catalysts is 7-fold higher than the state-of-the-art Pt/C. The high activity was confirmed by a more than 40 mV improvement in fuel cell performance with a Pt loading of 0.1 mg cm(-2) by using the core-shell catalysts.

Phage display-directed discovery of LEDGF/p75 binding cyclic peptide inhibitors of HIV replication.

The interaction between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase (IN) and its cellular cofactor lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75) is crucial for HIV replication. While recently discovered LEDGINs inhibit HIV-1 replication by occupying the LEDGF/p75 pocket in IN, it remained to be demonstrated whether LEDGF/p75 by itself can be targeted. By phage display we identified cyclic peptides (CPs) as the first LEDGF/p75 ligands that inhibit the LEDGF/p75-IN interaction. The CPs inhibit HIV replication in different cell lines without overt toxicity. In accord with the role of LEDGF/p75 in HIV integration and its inhibition by LEDGINs, CP64, and CP65 block HIV replication primarily by inhibiting the integration step. The CPs retained activity against HIV strains resistant to raltegravir or LEDGINs. Saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR showed residues in CP64 that strongly interact with LEDGF/p75 but not with HIV IN. Mutational analysis identified tryptophan as an important residue responsible for the activity of the peptides. Serial passaging of virus in the presence of CPs did not yield resistant strains. Our work provides proof-of-concept for direct targeting of LEDGF/p75 as novel therapeutic strategy and the CPs thereby serve as scaffold for future development of new HIV therapeutics.

A peptide inhibitor of HIV-1 assembly in vitro.

Formation of infectious HIV-1 involves assembly of Gag polyproteins into immature particles and subsequent assembly of mature capsids after proteolytic disassembly of the Gag shell. We report a 12-mer peptide, capsid assembly inhibitor (CAI), that binds the capsid (CA) domain of Gag and inhibits assembly of immature- and mature-like capsid particles in vitro. CAI was identified by phage display screening among a group of peptides with similar sequences that bind to a single reactive site in CA. Its binding site was mapped to CA residues 169-191, with an additional contribution from the last helix of CA. This result was confirmed by a separate X-ray structure analysis showing that CAI inserts into a conserved hydrophobic groove and alters the CA dimer interface. The CAI binding site is a new target for antiviral development, and CAI is the first known inhibitor directed against assembly of immature HIV-1.

Cross-reactive human immunodeficiency virus type 1-neutralizing human monoclonal antibody that recognizes a novel conformational epitope on gp41 and lacks reactivity against self-antigens.

Broadly cross-reactive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-neutralizing antibodies are infrequently elicited in infected humans. The two best-characterized gp41-specific cross-reactive neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies, 4E10 and 2F5, target linear epitopes in the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) and bind to cardiolipin and several other autoantigens. It has been hypothesized that, because of such reactivity to self-antigens, elicitation of 2F5 and 4E10 and similar antibodies by vaccine immunogens based on the MPER could be affected by tolerance mechanisms. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a novel anti-gp41 monoclonal antibody, designated m44, which neutralized most of the 22 HIV type 1 (HIV-1) primary isolates from different clades tested in assays based on infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells by replication-competent virus but did not bind to cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a Biacore assay nor to any protein or DNA autoantigens tested in Luminex assays. m44 bound to membrane-associated HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Envs), to recombinant Envs lacking the transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic tail (gp140s), and to gp41 structures containing five-helix bundles and six-helix bundles, but not to N-heptad repeat trimers, suggesting that the C-heptad repeat is involved in m44 binding. In contrast to 2F5, 4E10, and Z13, m44 did not bind to any significant degree to denatured gp140 and linear peptides derived from gp41, suggesting a conformational nature of the epitope. This is the first report of a gp41-specific cross-reactive HIV-1-neutralizing human antibody that does not have detectable reactivity to autoantigens. Its novel conserved conformational epitope on gp41 could be helpful in the design of vaccine immunogens and as a target for therapeutics.

SHIV-1157i and passaged progeny viruses encoding R5 HIV-1 clade C env cause AIDS in rhesus monkeys.

BACKGROUND: Infection of nonhuman primates with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) or chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) strains is widely used to study lentiviral pathogenesis, antiviral immunity and the efficacy of AIDS vaccine candidates. SHIV challenges allow assessment of anti-HIV-1 envelope responses in primates. As such, SHIVs should mimic natural HIV-1 infection in humans and, to address the pandemic, encode HIV-1 Env components representing major viral subtypes worldwide. RESULTS: We have developed a panel of clade C R5-tropic SHIVs based upon env of a Zambian pediatric isolate of HIV-1 clade C, the world's most prevalent HIV-1 subtype. The parental infectious proviral clone, SHIV-1157i, was rapidly passaged through five rhesus monkeys. After AIDS developed in the first animal at week 123 post-inoculation, infected blood was infused into a sixth monkey. Virus reisolated at this late stage was still exclusively R5 tropic and mucosally transmissible. Here we describe the long-term follow-up of this initial cohort of six monkeys. Two have remained non-progressors, whereas the other four gradually progressed to AIDS within 123-270 weeks post-exposure. Two progressors succumbed to opportunistic infections, including a case of SV40 encephalitis. CONCLUSION: These data document the disease progression induced by the first mucosally transmissible, pathogenic R5 non-clade B SHIV and suggest that SHIV-1157i-derived viruses, including the late-stage, highly replication-competent SHIV-1157ipd3N4 previously described (Song et al., 2006), display biological characteristics that mirror those of HIV-1 clade C and support their expanded use for AIDS vaccine studies in nonhuman primates.

Genetic and biological characterization of recombinant HIV type 1 with Env derived from long-term nonprogressor (LTNP) viruses.

Multiple factors are known to contribute to nonprogressive disease in long-term nonprogressors (LTNP). We previously selected LTNPs, in which broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 very likely contribute to disease prevention. Here, we characterize those LTNPs further. We analyzed sequences of the viral genes env, nef, vpr, tat, and rev as well as the cellular ccr5, HLA-B*5701, and HLA-B*27 genes derived from eight LTNPs, as mutations in these genes have been associated with the LTNP status in some studies. Furthermore, we compared the replication rates of recombinant reporter viruses carrying envelope proteins from LTNPs to control viruses from patients with similar CD4 count and viral load. Concerning the cellular factors, none of the eight LTNPs showed the 32-base pair deletion in the ccr5 gene, and HLA-B*5701 and HLA-B*27 alleles were detected in only one LTNP, respectively. The reading frames for the regulatory genes nef, vpr, tat, and rev were all open. Although Env sequences from LTNPs differed from those of control patients with respect to the length of variable domains and the number of N-glycosylation sites, these differences were not statistically significant and did not lead to differences in infectivity of recombinant reporter viruses.

The role of neutralizing antibodies in HIV infection.

Neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 play an important role in preventing viral infections. Less clear is their role in the containment of viral replication in infected individuals. However, evidence is accumulating that neutralizing antibodies may help the cellular arm of the immune response to prevent or delay the progression to AIDS. Detection of neutralizing antibodies depends on the in vitro neutralization assays used, and standardization of the assays is essential in order to be able to compare the magnitude and quality of a neutralizing antibody response in sera or other fluids from HIV-infected patients, uninfected HIV-1 exposed persons, or vaccinated animals/persons. Viral mechanisms to prevent neutralization include high variability and extensive glycosylation of the Envelope proteins, Envelope trimerization and shedding as well as late exposure of functionally important entry domains by conformational changes induced upon CD4 binding. These are also the difficulties encountered in the design of immunogens able to induce neutralizing antibodies upon vaccination.

Identification of mimotopes with diagnostic potential for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense variant surface glycoproteins using human antibody fractions.

BACKGROUND: At present, screening of the population at risk for gambiense human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is based on detection of antibodies against native variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) of Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense. Drawbacks of these native VSGs include culture of infective T.b. gambiense trypanosomes in laboratory rodents, necessary for production, and the exposure of non-specific epitopes that may cause cross-reactions. We therefore aimed at identifying peptides that mimic epitopes, hence called "mimotopes," specific to T.b. gambiense VSGs and that may replace the native proteins in antibody detection tests. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A Ph.D.-12 peptide phage display library was screened with polyclonal antibodies from patient sera, previously affinity purified on VSG LiTat 1.3 or LiTat 1.5. The peptide sequences were derived from the DNA sequence of the selected phages and synthesised as biotinylated peptides. Respectively, eighteen and twenty different mimotopes were identified for VSG LiTat 1.3 and LiTat 1.5, of which six and five were retained for assessment of their diagnostic performance. Based on alignment of the peptide sequences on the original protein sequence of VSG LiTat 1.3 and 1.5, three additional peptides were synthesised. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the synthetic peptides in indirect ELISA with 102 sera from HAT patients and 102 endemic negative controls. All mimotopes had areas under the curve (AUCs) of ≥0.85, indicating their diagnostic potential. One peptide corresponding to the VSG LiTat 1.3 protein sequence also had an AUC of ≥0.85, while the peptide based on the sequence of VSG LiTat 1.5 had an AUC of only 0.79. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We delivered the proof of principle that mimotopes for T.b. gambiense VSGs, with diagnostic potential, can be selected by phage display using polyclonal human antibodies.

Isolation of monoclonal antibodies with predetermined conformational epitope specificity.

Existing technologies allow isolating antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from B cells. We devised a direct approach to isolate mAbs with predetermined conformational epitope specificity, using epitope mimetics (mimotopes) that reflect the three-dimensional structure of given antigen subdomains. We performed differential biopanning using bacteriophages encoding random peptide libraries and polyclonal antibodies (Abs) that had been affinity-purified with either native or denatured antigen. This strategy yielded conformational mimotopes. We then generated mimotope-fluorescent protein fusions, which were used as baits to isolate single memory B cells from rhesus monkeys (RMs). To amplify RM immunoglobulin variable regions, we developed RM-specific PCR primers and generated chimeric simian-human mAbs with predicted epitope specificity. We established proof-of-concept of our strategy by isolating mAbs targeting the conformational V3 loop crown of HIV Env; the new mAbs cross-neutralized viruses of different clades. The novel technology allows isolating mAbs from RMs or other hosts given experimental immunogens or infectious agents.

An anti-HIV-1 V3 loop antibody fully protects cross-clade and elicits T-cell immunity in macaques mucosally challenged with an R5 clade C SHIV.

Neutralizing antibodies have been shown to protect macaques against SHIV challenge. However, genetically diverse HIV-1 clades have evolved, and a key question left unanswered is whether neutralizing antibodies can confer cross-clade protection in vivo. The novel human monoclonal antibody HGN194 was isolated from an individual infected with an HIV-1 clade AG recombinant circulating recombinant form (CRF). HGN194 targets an epitope in the third hypervariable loop (V3) of HIV-1 gp120 and neutralizes a range of relatively neutralization-sensitive and resistant viruses. We evaluated the potential of HGN194 to protect infant rhesus monkeys against a SHIV encoding a primary CCR5-tropic HIV-1 clade C envelope. After high-dose mucosal challenge, all untreated controls became highly viremic while all HGN194-treated animals (50 mg/kg) were completely protected. When HGN194 was given at 1 mg/kg, one out of two monkeys remained aviremic, whereas the other had delayed, lower peak viremia. Interestingly, all protected monkeys given high-dose HGN194 developed Gag-specific proliferative responses of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. To test whether generation of the latter involved cryptic infection, we ablated CD8+ cells after HGN194 clearance. No viremia was detected in any protected monkeys, thus ruling out virus reservoirs. Thus, induction of CD8 T-cell immunity may have resulted from transient "Hit and Run" infection or cross priming via Ag-Ab-mediated cross-presentation. Together, our data identified the HGN194 epitope as protective and provide proof-of-concept that this anti-V3 loop mAb can prevent infection with sterilizing immunity after challenge with virus of a different clade, implying that V3 is a potential vaccine target.

Unravelling the antigenic landscape of the HIV-1 subtype A envelope of an individual with broad cross-neutralizing antibodies using phage display peptide libraries.

Broad cross-neutralizing antibodies from persons infected with HIV-1 target a variety of epitopes. Identification of these HIV-1 epitopes may result in an optimal panel of antigenic peptides to be included in a prophylactic vaccine. Phage display peptide libraries were used to unravel the antigenic landscape of an individual (ITM1) infected with HIV-1 subtype A with broad cross-neutralizing antibodies. A stringent selection strategy resulted in the identification of 60 unique HIV-1 peptide phage, which were subjected to sequence analysis and mapped onto the ITM1 envelope sequences. Four groups of peptide phages were found: the first group (n=11) were similar with the tip of the V3 loop (KxxHxGPxxxF); the second group (n=11) represented the gp41 principal immunodominant domain (CxGxLxCTxNxP); the third group (n=16) could be localized in the V2 loop (KxxxHxxxY); and the fourth group (n=22) mimicked a conformational epitope (Hxx(S)/(T)NxK). All but the V2-binding antibodies were conserved over the 11 years of follow-up. A neutralization inhibition assay revealed the contribution of the V3 antibodies to the neutralizing capacity of the ITM1 plasma. Overall, the ITM1 immunogenic landscape was mapped and a part of the origin of this broad cross-neutralizing activity was demonstrated.

Inducing cross-clade neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 by immunofocusing.

BACKGROUND: Although vaccines are important in preventing viral infections by inducing neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), HIV-1 has proven to be a difficult target and escapes humoral immunity through various mechanisms. We sought to test whether HIV-1 Env mimics may serve as immunogens. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using random peptide phage display libraries, we identified the epitopes recognized by polyclonal antibodies of a rhesus monkey that had developed high-titer, broadly reactive nAbs after infection with a simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) encoding env of a recently transmitted HIV-1 clade C (HIV-C). Phage peptide inserts were analyzed for conformational and linear homology using computational analysis; some peptides mimicked various domains of the original HIV-C Env, such as conformational V3 loop epitopes and the conserved linear region of the gp120 C-terminus. Next, we devised a novel prime/boost strategy to test the immunogenicity of such phage-displayed peptides and primed mice only once with HIV-C gp160 DNA followed by boosting with mixtures of recombinant phages. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This strategy, which was designed to focus the immune system on a few Env epitopes (immunofocusing), not only induced HIV-C gp160 binding antibodies and cross-clade nAbs, but also linked a conserved HIV Env region for the first time to the induction of nAbs: the C-terminus of gp120. The identification of conserved antigen mimics may lead to novel immunogens capable of inducing broadly reactive nAbs.

Mimotopes selected with antibodies from HIV-1-neutralizing long-term non-progressor plasma.

A promising approach to identify HIV-1 vaccine candidates is to dissect the natural immune response against the virus in persons controlling the infection over decades without any antiviral therapy. Here we focus on a group of such persons, eight long-term non-progressors (LTNP), in which we proved the presence of broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 in the plasma as very likely cause for their LTNP status. The aim of this study was to identify the epitopes for these neutralizing antibodies, as these should represent immunogens potentially able to elicit neutralizing antibodies upon vaccination. We screened random peptide phage libraries with plasma antibodies from eight LTNP. After several rounds of positive and negative selection, about 700 HIV-specific mimotopes were sequenced. The mimotope sequences were analyzed for homology to HIV-1 Env, in particular for their capacity to represent conformational epitopes on the surface of the gp120 structure using our software 3DEX. Related phage groups were analyzed for crossreactivity with the LTNP plasma by ELISA as well as for their capacity to induce HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies in mice. Based on this study interesting mimotopes can now be selected for further immunization studies.