Structure-based epitope prediction drives the design of diagnostic peptidic probes to reveal specific antibodies elicited in response to infections. We previously identified a highly immunoreactive epitope from the peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (Pal) antigen from Burkholderia pseudomallei, which could also diagnose Burkholderia cepacia infections. Here, considering the high phylogenetic conservation within Burkholderia species, we ask whether cross-reactivity can be reciprocally displayed by the synthetic epitope from B. cenocepacia. We perform comparative analyses of the conformational preferences and diagnostic performances of the corresponding epitopes from the two Burkholderia species when presented in the context of the full-length proteins or as isolated peptides. The effects of conformation on the diagnostic potential and cross-reactivity of Pal peptide epitopes are rationalized on the basis of the 1.8 Å crystal structure of B. cenocepacia Pal and through computational analyses. Our results are discussed in the context of designing new diagnostic molecules for the early detection of infectious diseases.

中文翻译：

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设计用于免疫诊断的探针：针对针对伯克霍尔德氏菌感染的抗原决定簇的结构性见解

基于结构的表位预测推动了诊断性肽探针的设计，以揭示针对感染引起的特异性抗体。我们先前从Burkholderia pseudomallei的肽聚糖相关脂蛋白（Pal）抗原中鉴定了高度免疫反应性的抗原决定簇，它也可以诊断洋葱伯克霍尔德氏菌感染。在这里，考虑到伯克霍尔德氏菌物种内的高度系统发育保守性，我们询问交叉反应是否可以由新隐双歧杆菌的合成表位相互反映。我们对来自两个伯克霍尔德氏菌的相应表位的构象偏好和诊断性能进行比较分析当以全长蛋白质或分离肽的形式呈现时，这些物种被称为“物种”。构象对Pal肽表位的诊断潜力和交叉反应性的影响是根据B. cenocepacia Pal的1.8Å晶体结构并通过计算分析合理化的。我们的结果是在设计新的诊断性分子以早期发现传染病的背景下讨论的。