Predicting protein transport mechanism and immune response using spatial protein motifs and epitopes

Abstract

Chlamydophila represents a distinct genus of gram negative bacteria associated with a spectrum of both human and animal disease and, as such, is an important health and economic concern. Central to the pathogenicity of Chlamydophila are antigenic proteins among which the Major Outer Membrane Proteins (MOMP) have received significant attention. MOMP from Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis, the human pathogens, to date, remain the best characterised. In addition, MOMP-derived peptides have been shown to potentiate anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenecity, by a cell mediated system involving MHC class II proteins [2]. However, despite the importance of this protein as a vaccine target against inflammation driven pathologies attributed to Chlamydia, tremendous challenges in the isolation of this membrane-bound, cysteine-rich protein make it difficult to experimentally isolate the protein for detailed structural and immunological studies.