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The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the one of the most important antigen:presenting proteins that initiate adaptive immune response,which is divided into MHC class I and MHC class Ⅱ.Presentation of processed exogenous antigens is restricted by the MHC class Ⅱ whereas the MHC class Ⅰ presentation involves both endogenous and exogenous antigens.Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite that can infect almost all of warm:blooded animals including humans.The peptides capable of being presented on MHC class Ⅰ and their interaction with T cells are of critical importance.In this study we predicted the affinity of different epitopes and combined the predictions with proteasome digestion to study the correlation between the binding ability to MHC class I and the protection of the epitopes from T.gondii.We compared the immunogenicity of the predicted epitopes with protection induced by the same epitopes in mouse immunization experiments and lastly we studied the T cell response to the same peptides in splenocytes from T.gondii infected mice.This study demonstrates that in silico experiments are effective tools for the rational design ofepitope vaccines for controlling the toxoplasmosis.These experiments reduce the experimental evaluation necessary because we can narrow down the number of the peptides.Thus,the time and money invested in the design and development ofepitope vaccines can be significantly reduced.Interestingly,our study indicates that several selected peptides are immunogenic,inducing strong IFN: γ responses.Therefore,they should be good candidates for the development ofa peptidE-based vaccine.