FIG. 9.

T-cell epitopes. Splenocytes from five rabbits infected for 270 days with T. paraluiscuniculi Cuniculi A strain were tested for their ability to proliferate when stimulated with recombinant TprK-central peptide (A) and synthetic peptides (B). All peptides were designed according to the Nichols strain Tpr sequences. A. TprK-central (315 amino acids, Table 2) encompasses the sequences of peptides 2 to 30 and partially those of peptides 1 and 31. The concentration of antigen was 10 μg/ml. B. Among the peptides encompassing sequences in the conserved regions of TprK, T-cell response was confined to peptides 1, 3, 10, 15, and 40 during T. paraluiscuniculi experimental infection. V1 to V7 indicate peptides containing amino acid sequences found in the variable regions (unpublished data).