Our first TBEV peptide pool

Today, we’re adding another PepPool to our webshop! The new peptide pool is derived from the Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), the virus that causes tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). There are roughly 10,000 reported clinical cases of TBE each year, but the true figure is estimated to be much higher. The virus is endemic in large parts of Europe and Asia, with several different vaccines available. TBEV is a member of the flavivirus family including yellow fever, Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. 

The PepPool: TBEV (C+E), scanning includes 26 peptides from the capsid protein (C) and 49 peptides from the immunodominant regions of the envelope protein (E). The new PepPool is suitable for the stimulation of human T cells. We have validated the peptide pool using IFN-γ ELISpot, IFN-ү/IL-2/TNF-α FluoroSpot, and IFN-ү/IL-4/IL-5 FluoroSpot.

Theoretically, one would expect a T cell response against the C and E proteins in TBE-vaccinated individuals or TBE patients. But in our own validation experiments, T cell responses were variable and low among vaccinees. These findings were in line with a study by Varnaitė et al., which showed T cell responses to the TBE vaccine to be heterologous, stimulating a lower IFN-γ response, and fewer polyfunctional memory CD4 T cells in comparison to patients with TBE. 

A little extra side note: we have another TBEV peptide pool sitting in our freezer. This scanning peptide pool covers the non-structural protein 3 (NS3) of TBEV. This peptide pool will most likely only give a response in currently infected or recovered TBE individuals as the non-structural proteins aren’t so immunogenic in the vaccine. Since we haven’t had the possibility to validate the NS3 PepPool, it’s not in our webshop yet. Let us know if you’d like to try it out yourself!    

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