Identification of Th1 epitopes within molecules from the lung-stage schistosomulum of Schistosoma japonicum by combining prediction analysis of the transcriptome with experimental validation

► We predicted six promiscuous Th cell epitopes using immunoinformatics method. ► All six sequences predicted can be expressed in normal day 3 schistosomula. ► Four of six peptides could bind to both I-Ad and I-Ed molecules of the mice. ► Three of the six predicted peptides could induce a recall CD4+ Th1 response in vitro. ► We provided a novel method for the discovery of Th epitopes against schistosoma.