Title: From Pauling's abzyme concept to the new era of hydrolytic anti-DNA autoantibodies: a link to rational vaccine design? – A review

Authors: Mirjana Pavlovic, Michelle Cavallo, Anna Kats, Alex Kotlarchyk, Hanqi Zhuang, Yehuda Shoenfeld

Addresses: Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA. ' Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA. ' Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA. ' Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA. ' Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA. ' Sheba Medical Centre at Zabludovicz Centre of Autoimmunity, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 52621, Israel

Abstract: Specific entities of naturally-occurring DNA hydrolytic/cytotoxic antibodies (abzymes) are linked to autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders. Suggested sequence of underlying activities conform to such entities penetrating the living cells, trans-locating to nucleus and recognising specific binding sites within single- or double-stranded DNA. Their origin is unknown since corresponding immunogens are unidentified. These anti-DNA antibodies could be the organism|s immune response to microbial attack. Their structure, function and pathogenicity were investigated in wet-lab and via bioinformatics in context of Rational Vaccine Designs. This paper offers a comprehensive critical review on the subject in the light of known and newly proposed concepts.

Keywords: autoimmune diseases; human immunodeficiency virus; anti-DNA antibodies; DNA vaccines; RVD; rational vaccine design; abzymes; lymphoproliferative disorders; bioinformatics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBRA.2011.041735

International Journal of Bioinformatics Research and Applications, 2011 Vol.7 No.3, pp.220 - 238

Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *

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