Estrategia de tamizaje para la selección de epítopes de Leishmania spp en humanos por medio del análisis de interacciones moleculares: Un acercamiento desde la bioinformática

Leishmaniasis is a disease that causes a cutaneous lesion where the vector insect bites. In Colombia this disease is a big public health problem. The intracellular parasite invades macrophages parasitophorous vacuole, therefore parasite elimination needs TH1 lymphocyte activation with INFγ production and Nitric Oxide synthesis inside macrophages, so antigen presentation by binding short parasite sequences to MHC class II pocket is critical. Such interactions may be predicted with bioinformatic tools. The aim of this work was to identify linear sequences from immunogenic proteins of Leishmania (Viannia) spp. through bioinformatic tools against MHC class II human molecules. Methodology: linear sequences of GP63, HSP70 y PEPCK were taken from L. panamensis and binding of 15mer peptides to different HLA-DR*04s were predicted. Highly conserved sequences were selected among the parasite species and null or low identity among human proteins. Finally molecular docking was performed against HLA-DR*04:01 pocket. Results: 3 sequences were identified as potential Leishmanial T epitopes. Conclusion: GP63267-282, GP63282-297; and PEPCK535-550 peptides could induce a Th1 response in humans and therefore they can be evaluated as prophylactic or therapeutic candidates against leishmaniasis.