An Introduction to B-Cell Epitope Mapping and In Silico Epitope Prediction

الملخص EN

Identification of B-cell epitopes is a fundamental step for development of epitope-based vaccines, therapeutic antibodies, and diagnostic tools.

Epitope-based antibodies are currently the most promising class of biopharmaceuticals.

In the last decade, in-depth in silico analysis and categorization of the experimentally identified epitopes stimulated development of algorithms for epitope prediction.

Recently, various in silico tools are employed in attempts to predict B-cell epitopes based on sequence and/or structural data.

The main objective of epitope identification is to replace an antigen in the immunization, antibody production, and serodiagnosis.

The accurate identification of B-cell epitopes still presents major challenges for immunologists.

Advances in B-cell epitope mapping and computational prediction have yielded molecular insights into the process of biorecognition and formation of antigen-antibody complex, which may help to localize B-cell epitopes more precisely.

In this paper, we have comprehensively reviewed state-of-the-art experimental methods for B-cell epitope identification, existing databases for epitopes, and novel in silico resources and prediction tools available online.

We have also elaborated new trends in the antibody-based epitope prediction.

The aim of this review is to assist researchers in identification of B-cell epitopes.