In Silico Design and Evaluation of PRAME+FliCΔD2D3 as a New Breast Cancer Vaccine Candidate

Computer-aided designing of a novel multi‑epitope DNA vaccine against severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne viral disease caused by the SFTS virus (Dabie bandavirus), which has become a substantial risk to public health. No specific treatment is available now, that calls for an effective vaccine. Given this, we aimed to develop a multi-epitope DNA vaccine through the help of bioinformatics. The final DNA vaccine was inserted into a special plasmid vector pVAX1, consisting of CD8+ T cell epitopes, CD4+ T cell epitopes and B cell epitopes (six epitopes each) screened from four genome-encoded proteins--nuclear protein (NP), glycoprotein (GP), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), as well as nonstructural protein (NSs). To ascertain if the predicted structure would be stable and successful in preventing infection, an immunological simulation was run on it. In conclusion, we designed a multi-epitope DNA vaccine that is expected to be effective against Dabie bandavirus, but in vivo trials are needed to verify this claim.

Protamine 1 as a secreted colorectal cancer-specific antigen facilitating G1/S phase transition under nutrient stress conditions

PURPOSE

Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are optimal tumor diagnostic markers and involved in carcinogenesis. However, colorectal cancer (CRC) related CTAs are less reported with impressive diagnostic capability or relevance with tumor metabolism rewiring. Herein, we demonstrated CRC-related CTA, Protamine 1 (PRM1), as a promising diagnostic marker and involved in regulation of cellular growth under nutrient deficiency.

METHODS

Transcriptomics of five paired CRC tissues was used to screen CRC-related CTAs. Capability of PRM1 to distinguish CRC was studied by detection of clinical samples through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cellular functions were investigated in CRC cell lines through in vivo and in vitro assays.

RESULTS

By RNA-seq and detection in 824 clinical samples from two centers, PRM1 expression were upregulated in CRC tissues and patients` serum. Serum PRM1 showed impressive accuracy to diagnose CRC from healthy controls and benign gastrointestinal disease patients, particularly more sensitive for early-staged CRC. Furthermore, we reported that when cells were cultured in serum-reduced medium, PRM1 secretion was upregulated, and secreted PRM1 promoted CRC growth in culture and in mice. Additionally, G1/S phase transition of CRC cells was facilitated by PRM1 protein supplementation and overexpression via activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in serum deficient medium.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, our research presented PRM1 as a specific CRC antigen and illustrated the importance of PRM1 in CRC metabolism rewiring. The new vulnerability of CRC cells was also provided with the potential to be targeted in future. Diagnostic value and grow factor-like biofunction of PRM1 A represents the secretion process of PRM1 regulated by nutrient deficiency. B represents activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway of secreted PRM1.

Design of a new multi-epitope peptide vaccine for non-small cell Lung cancer via vaccinology methods: an in silico study

Lung cancer is the most common type of tumor worldwide. Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is considered any epithelial cell-related lung cancer, which includes more than 85% of all lung cancer cases. NSCLC is less responsive to chemotherapy than SCLC. Therefore, the need for other treatments has become more pronounced and immunotherapy has gained increasing attention as a promising therapy in recent years. The current study aimed to design a multi-epitope peptide vaccine targeting main cancer/testis antigens of SP17, AKAP4, and PTTG1, which have a major function in tumor cell proliferation invasion. The protein vaccine was constructed using the rigorous immunoinformatics analysis and investigation of several immune system parameters, considering B cell epitopes and CD4 and CD8 induced epitopes as the most important cells to respond to cancer cells. Inverse translation and optimization of codons were performed to have the designed protein's cloning as well as expression potential in E.coli. Physicochemical, antigenic, and allergenic features were assessed to confirm the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. The secondary and tertiary structures were predicted. Finally, intrinsic disorder and 3D model refinement and validation were performed to eliminate structural problems. The designed construct had a stable structure that could be an antigen and stimulate the immune system and not be an allergen. The built model 3D structure was valid and stable. Further investigations are needed to approve the safety and immunogenic property of this new vaccine for NSCLC before it can be used in patients.