Design of Linear B Cell Epitopes and Evaluation of Their Antigenicity, Allergenicity, and Toxicity: An

Vijaya Sai Ayyagari1

  • 1Department of Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology & Research (Deemed to be University), Vadlamudi, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Immunoinformatics is a modern branch of science formed as a result of the intersection between immunology and computer science. One of the important steps in the design of multi-epitope vaccines is the prediction of B cell epitopes. B cell epitopes are of two types, linear and discontinuous. Linear epitope residues lie next to each other in the primary structure of a protein. The amino acids that constitute discontinuous epitopes lie close to each other in the three-dimensional structure of the protein. Recognition of B cell epitopes by antibodies on an antigen constitutes an important event in the immune responses toward the antigenic challenge and also forms the basis for several immunological applications. Prediction of B cell epitopes in an antigen constitutes one of the important steps in the design of multi-epitope-based vaccines. This chapter explains the prediction of linear B cell epitopes in an antigen as well as their allergenicity, antigenicity, and toxicity by using online tools.

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