Generation of antibodies against prion protein in wild-type mice via helix 1 peptide immunization.

We present here the development of antibodies against prion protein in BALB/C mice using as antigen human helix 1 of PrP. This sequence is suggested to be involved in protein pathological conformational changes, and is distinguished from that of mice by one amino acid. The immune tolerance to an 'almost-self' epitope and the poor immunogenicity of short peptides was overcome by using Multiple Antigen Peptide displaying eight copies of helix 1. The generated antibodies recognize the whole prion protein with a high binding constant and the established protocol may lead to an active immunization towards therapeutics of prion disease.