[Antigenome technology: rapid and comprehensive identification and validation of antigens as putative components in...

The resolution of complete genome sequences of many pathogens has dramatically expanded our perspectives in developing novel vaccines by increasing both the speed and scale of target identification. Genomics-based technologies with their significant advantages can be applied to most pathogens and have exploited genome sequence information in alliance with adjunct technologies, including bioinformatics, expression analyses (microarrays, in vivo expression technologies), random mutagenesis or protein/peptide based selection methods (proteomics and immunoselection using expression libraries). A novel approach that combines the advantages of full genome coverage and serological antigen identification has been developed in the laboratory of the authors for the identification of protein antigens from bacterial pathogens. This technology has been applied to several bacterial pathogens and, as a result, defined the most relevant antigenic proteins that are targeted by the human immune system, including their antibody binding sites (epitopes). This catalogue of antigens is termed the antigenome and the novel technology offers an integrated approach for antigen validation in order to select the most promising candidates for the development of subunit vaccines against the targeted bacterial diseases. Using the antigenome technology, novel protective antigens had been discovered from several important human pathogens.