AUTHOR=Bermudez Adriana , Alba Martha P. , Vanegas Magnolia , Patarroyo Manuel A. , Patarroyo Manuel E. TITLE=Specific β-Turns Precede PPIIL Structures Binding to Allele-Specific HLA-DRβ1* PBRs in Fully-Protective Malaria Vaccine Components JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry VOLUME=6 YEAR=2018 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2018.00106 DOI=10.3389/fchem.2018.00106 ISSN=2296-2646 ABSTRACT=

The 3D structural analysis of 62 peptides derived from highly pathogenic Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite proteins involved in host cell invasion led to finding a striking association between particular β-turn types located in the N-terminal peripheral flanking residue region (preceding the polyproline II left-handed structures fitting into the HLA-DRβ* allele family) and modified immune protection-inducing protein structure induced long-lasting protective immunity. This is the first time association between two different secondary structures associated with a specific immunological function has been described: full, long-lasting protective immunity.