LA PREDICCIÓN IN SILICO DETERMINA LA PRESENCIA DE EPÍTOPOS INMUNOGÉNICOS ALTAMENTE ESPECÍFICOS EN FRAGMENTOS DE LA PROTEÍNA DE LA MEMBRANA POLIMÓRFICA (PMP17G) DE Chlamydia abortus

Abstract

Background. Ovine Enzootic Abortion is a contagious infectious disease caused by a Gram negative and obligate intracellular bacterium, Chlamydia abortus. For field diagnosis, commercial serological tests are used; however, some of these tests show low sensitivity and specificity rates, due to the cross-reactions that the antigens used have against other pathogens. For the most accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to develop tests with more specific antigens such as polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmp's), that allow to determine the presence of specific epitopes using new technologies. Objective. To determine in silico the presence of epitopes with specific immunogenic potential against Chlamydia abortus of two fragments of the PMP17G protein. Methodology. The cloning and sequencing of the fragments was carried out from a field isolate of Chlamydia abortus, and from the analysis of these sequences, with the help of two bioinformatics software’s. Results. Several epitopes from Chlamydia abortus were found, rPOMP90-3 (eight epitopes) and rPOMP90-4 (one epitope). Implications. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that both fragments of the protein have the capacity to activate the immune system, which would be useful for the development of diagnostic kits and immunogens. Conclusions. The in silico analysis allowed to efficiently predict and identify specific epitopes against Chlamydia abortus in both fragments of the protein.