Vaccination of sheep against Fasciola hepatica with glutathione S-transferase. Identification and mapping of antibody epitopes on a three-dimensional model of the antigen.

The glutathione S-transferases (FhGST) of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica have been identified as novel vaccine candidates that protect sheep against a fluke infection. With the use of overlapping peptides covering the predicted amino acid sequences of four FhGST cDNAs, we have defined the linear epitopes recognized by polyclonal antibody from sheep vaccinated with FhGST. Dominant and minor epitopes were found to be present on all four of the sequences although some epitopes were shown to be specific to particular FhGST. A high percentage of the FhGST peptides were found to be antigenic although considerable variability in response to the peptides was observed among the animals. This analysis was extended to the IgG1 and IgG2 response at the peptide level. Based on the recently solved crystal structure of the rat mu-class GST 3-3, a three-dimensional model of one of the FhGST sequences was generated that allowed the predicted spatial localization of defined epitopes. Most epitopes were localized on regions of high flexibility and accessibility. A comparison of epitopes on FhGST with the B cell epitopes on Sm28, a 28-kDa GST from Schistosoma mansoni, has found few similarities. There was no correlation between an antibody response to linear peptide epitopes and the level of protection induced in sheep by vaccination with FhGST.