Responses of T cells from sensitized donors to recombinant and synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences of the Plasmodium falciparum SERP antigen.

In the present work, we intend to determine the capacity of human lymphocytes to recognize subfragments of the serine-stretch protein SERP, a blood-stage antigen from Plasmodium falciparum. Individuals sensitized by a previous P. falciparum infection were studied. Some recombinant proteins (RP) including RP7 and RP10 (amino acids 631-684 and 631-892 of SERP, respectively), were recognized in proliferation assays by lymphocytes from 28 sensitized individuals and not by lymphocytes from control, non-sensitized, donors. Synthetic peptides covering predefined zones of particular interest were tested and appeared to induce proliferative responses of lymphocytes from sensitized donors, allowing identification of putative T cell epitopes.