Summary
Immunoproteomics applies Mass Spectrometry-based Methods to Study the Targets of the Immune Response, i.e. immunogenic microbial or viral peptides.
The human immune response is induced by proteins or antigens of foreign organisms. Specific peptides of these microbial or viral antigens – so called epitopes - are the targets for the various arms of the immune response. The human immune system thereto may display these specific epitopes to immune effector cells. The tracing and the structural analysis of such foreign epitopes is highly challenging but essential for a good understanding of the immune response and is a potential tool for dedicated vaccine development against microorganisms. Currently, LCMS is the only methodology that can provide unbiased insights into the nature and dynamics of the display of foreign epitopes to the immune system. This project aims to develop a platform technology for identification of immunogenic peptides of foreign origin by enhancing the capabilities and performance of nanoflow LCMS specifically to this end.
Applications of this technology in vaccinology is termed as ‘immunoproteomics’.
Developments are aimed at (A) increasing the sensitivity of LCMS to the immunological relevant level; (B) use of selective enrichment methods for epitopes originating from post translationally modified proteins (C) development of new concepts in the identification of B cell epitopes, including linear, non-linear and conformational epitopes, (D) Development of feasible methods for comprehensive proteome analysis of pathogens.