Distorting malaria peptide backbone structure to enable fitting into MHC class II molecules renders modified peptides immunogenic and protective.
Cifuentes, G., Patarroyo, M.E., Urquiza, M., Ramirez, L.E., Reyes, C., Rodriguez, R.(2003) J Med Chem 46: 2250-2253
- PubMed: 12747797 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm020440w
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2MU8 - PubMed Abstract: 
The conserved, nonantigenic, nonimmunogenic malaria Merozoite Surface Protein-2 peptide 1, having high affinity for red blood cells, was rendered immunogenic and protective in Aotus monkeys by specifically changing some critical residues. The NMR structure revealed a switch from classical type III' into distorted III' and III beta turns in the protective peptides. These changes may lead to a better fit into the Aotus MHC class II human HLA-DRbeta1 12 molecule equivalent, thus activating the immune system.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia, Carrera 50 No. 26-00 Bogotá, Colombia.