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Alrumaihi F. Identification of novel chemical scaffolds against kinase domain of cancer causing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2: a systemic chemoinformatic approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:6269-6279. [PMID: 37424103 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2233618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is expressed in high magnitude in several cancers. Designing new drug molecules that target kinase domain of the HER2 enzyme might provide an appealing platform. Considering this, herein, a multi-phase bioinformatic approach is applied to screen diverse natural and chemical scaffolds to identify compounds that fit best at the kinase domain of HER2. By doing so, three compounds; LAS_51187157, LAC_51217113, LAC_51390233 were pointed with docking score of -11.4 kcal/mol, -11.3 kcal/mol and -11.2 kcal/mol, respectively. In molecular dynamic simulation, the complexes behaved in a stable dynamic with no major local/global structural variations. The intermolecular binding free energies were further estimated that concluded LAC_51390233 complex was the most stable and has less entropy energy. The good docked affinity of LAC_51390233 with HER2 was confirmed by WaterSwap absolute binding free energy. The entropy energy demonstrated that LAC_51390233 has less freedom energy compared to others. Similarly, all three compounds revealed very favorable druglike properties and pharmacokinetics. All the selected three compounds were also non-carcinogenic, non-immunotoxicity, non-mutagenicity, and non-cytotoxic. In a nutshell, the compounds are interesting scaffolds and might be subjected to extensive experimental testing to reveal their real biological potency.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faris Alrumaihi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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2
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Kaur B, Karnwal A, Bansal A, Malik T. An Immunoinformatic-Based In Silico Identification on the Creation of a Multiepitope-Based Vaccination Against the Nipah Virus. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 2024:4066641. [PMID: 38962403 PMCID: PMC11221950 DOI: 10.1155/2024/4066641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
The zoonotic viruses pose significant threats to public health. Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging virus transmitted from bats to humans. The NiV causes severe encephalitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, leading to high mortality rates, with fatality rates ranging from 40% to 75%. The first emergence of the disease was found in Malaysia in 1998-1999 and later in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Thailand, India, and other South and Southeast Asian nations. Currently, no specific vaccines or antiviral drugs are available. The potential advantages of epitope-based vaccines include their ability to elicit specific immune responses while minimizing potential side effects. The epitopes have been identified from the conserved region of viral proteins obtained from the UniProt database. The selection of conserved epitopes involves analyzing the genetic sequences of various viral strains. The present study identified two B cell epitopes, seven cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes, and seven helper T lymphocyte (HTL) epitope interactions from the NiV proteomic inventory. The antigenic and physiological properties of retrieved protein were analyzed using online servers ToxinPred, VaxiJen v2.0, and AllerTOP. The final vaccine candidate has a total combined coverage range of 80.53%. The tertiary structure of the constructed vaccine was optimized, and its stability was confirmed with the help of molecular simulation. Molecular docking was performed to check the binding affinity and binding energy of the constructed vaccine with TLR-3 and TLR-5. Codon optimization was performed in the constructed vaccine within the Escherichia coli K12 strain, to eliminate the danger of codon bias. However, these findings must require further validation to assess their effectiveness and safety. The development of vaccines and therapeutic approaches for virus infection is an ongoing area of research, and it may take time before effective interventions are available for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beant Kaur
- School of Bioengineering and BiosciencesLovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India
| | - Arun Karnwal
- School of Bioengineering and BiosciencesLovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India
| | - Anu Bansal
- School of Bioengineering and BiosciencesLovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India
| | - Tabarak Malik
- Department of Biomedical SciencesInstitute of HealthJimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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3
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Aslam S, Aljawdah HM, Murshed M, Serrano GE. Pharmacophore modelling based virtual screening and molecular dynamics identified the novel inhibitors and drug targets against Waddlia chondrophila. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13472. [PMID: 38866811 PMCID: PMC11169463 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63555-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Waddlia chondrophila is a possible cause of fetal death in humans. This Chlamydia-related bacterium is an emergent pathogen that causes human miscarriages and ruminant abortions, which results in financial losses. Despite the years of efforts, the underlying mechanism behind the pathogenesis of W. chondrophila is little known which hindered the development of novel treatment options. In the framework of current study, computational approaches were used to identify novel inhibitors (phytocompounds) and drug targets against W. chondrophila. At first, RNA polymerase sigma factor SigA and 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid transferase were identified through subtractive proteomics pipeline. Afterwards, extensive docking and simulation analyses were conducted to optimize potentially novel phytocompounds by assessing their binding affinity to target proteins. A 100ns molecular dynamics simulation well complimented the compound's binding affinity and indicated strong stability of predicted compounds at the docked site. The calculation of binding free energies with MMGBSA corroborated the significant binding affinity between phytocompounds and target protein binding sites. The proposed phytocompounds may be a viable treatment option for patients infected with W. chondrophila; however, further research is required to ensure their safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidra Aslam
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, USA.
| | - Hossam M Aljawdah
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mutee Murshed
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Sarfraz A, Qurrat-Ul-Ain Fatima S, Shehroz M, Ahmad I, Zaman A, Nishan U, Tayyab M, Sheheryar, Moura AA, Ullah R, Ali EA, Shah M. Decrypting the multi-genome data for chimeric vaccine designing against the antibiotic resistant Yersinia pestis. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:111952. [PMID: 38555818 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is a gram-negative bacterium that can be fatal if not treated properly. Three types of plague are currently known: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague, among which the fatality rate of septicemic and pneumonic plague is very high. Bubonic plague can be treated, but only if antibiotics are used at the initial stage of the infection. But unfortunately, Y. pestis has also shown resistance to certain antibiotics such as kanamycin, minocycline, tetracycline, streptomycin, sulfonamides, spectinomycin, and chloramphenicol. Despite tremendous progress in vaccine development against Y. pestis, there is no proper FDA-approved vaccine available to protect people from its infections. Therefore, effective broad-spectrum vaccine development against Y. pestis is indispensable. In this study, vaccinomics-assisted immunoinformatics techniques were used to find possible vaccine candidates by utilizing the core proteome prepared from 58 complete genomes of Y. pestis. Human non-homologous, pathogen-essential, virulent, and extracellular and membrane proteins are potential vaccine targets. Two antigenic proteins were prioritized for the prediction of lead epitopes by utilizing reverse vaccinology approaches. Four vaccine designs were formulated using the selected B- and T-cell epitopes coupled with appropriate linkers and adjuvant sequences capable of inducing potent immune responses. The HLA allele population coverage of the T-cell epitopes selected for vaccine construction was also analyzed. The V2 constructs were top-ranked and selected for further analysis on the basis of immunological, physicochemical, and immune-receptor docking interactions and scores. Docking and molecular dynamic simulations confirmed the stability of construct V2 interactions with the host immune receptors. Immune simulation analysis anticipated the strong immune profile of the prioritized construct. In silico restriction cloning ensured the feasible cloning ability of the V2 construct in the expression system of E. coli strain K12. It is anticipated that the designed vaccine construct may be safe, effective, and able to elicit strong immune responses against Y. pestis infections and may, therefore, merit investigation using in vitro and in vivo assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asifa Sarfraz
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Shehroz
- Department of Bioinformatics, Kohsar University Murree, Murree 47150, Pakistan
| | - Iqra Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan
| | - Aqal Zaman
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan
| | - Umar Nishan
- Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Science & Technology, Kohat, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tayyab
- Institute of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Sheheryar
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | - Riaz Ullah
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Essam A Ali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohibullah Shah
- Department of Biochemistry, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan.
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5
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Mortazavi B, Molaei A, Fard NA. Multi-epitopevaccines, from design to expression; an in silico approach. Hum Immunol 2024; 85:110804. [PMID: 38658216 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2024.110804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The development of vaccines against a wide range of infectious diseases and pathogens often relies on multi-epitope strategies that can effectively stimulate both humoral and cellular immunity. Immunoinformatics tools play a pivotal role in designing such vaccines, enhancing immune response potential, and minimizing the risk of failure. This review presents a comprehensive overview of practical tools for epitope prediction and the associated immune responses. These immunoinformatics tools facilitate the selection of epitopes based on parameters such as antigenicity, absence of toxic and allergenic sequences, secondary and tertiary structures, sequence conservation, and population coverage. The chosen epitopes can be tailored for B-cells or T-cells, both of which require further assessments covered in this study. We offer a range of suitable linkers that effectively separate cytotoxic T lymphocyte and helper T lymphocyte epitopes while preserving their functionality. Additionally, we identify various adjuvants for specific purposes. We delve into the evaluation of MHC-epitope interactions, MHC clusters, and the simulation of final constructs through molecular docking techniques. We provide diverse linkers and adjuvants optimized for epitope functions to bolster immune responses through epitope attachment. By leveraging these comprehensive tools, the development of multi-epitope vaccines holds the promise of robust immunity and a significant reduction in experimental costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Mortazavi
- Department of systems Biotechnology, Faculty of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Molaei
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Najaf Allahyari Fard
- Department of systems Biotechnology, Faculty of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran.
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6
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Almanaa TN, Mubarak A, Sajjad M, Ullah A, Hassan M, Waheed Y, Irfan M, Khan S, Ahmad S. Design and validation of a novel multi-epitopes vaccine against hantavirus. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:4185-4195. [PMID: 37261466 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2219324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Hantavirus is a member of the order Bunyavirales and an emerging global pathogen. Hantavirus infections have affected millions of people globally based on available epidemiological data and research studies. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) are the two main human diseases associated with hantavirus infections. Hence, efforts are required to develop a potent vaccine against the pathogen. The only vaccine that is in use for hantavirus is an inactivated virus vaccine, "Hantavax", but it failed to produce neutralizing antibodies. Vaccine development is of much importance in dealing with the surge of hantavirus globally. In this study, hantavirus five proteins (N protein, G1 and G2, L protein, and non-structural proteins) were used in NetCTL 1.2 program to predict T-cell epitopes. To predict major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding alleles, an immune epitope database (IEDB) was used. All predicted epitopes were then investigated for different immunoinformatics analyses such as antigenicity and toxicity analyses. The good water-soluble, non-toxic, probable antigenic, and DRB*0101 binder was selected. A multi-epitopes-based vaccine designing was then done where linkers were used to connect the shortlisted epitopes. In addition, an adjuvant molecule was supplementary to the multi-epitopes peptide to improve the vaccine's immunogenic potential. The final vaccine construct's three-dimensional structure was modeled by ab initio method. The vaccine molecule was then evaluated for its binding potential with TLR-3 immune receptor, which is key for its recognition and processing by the host immune system. Docking studies were performed using HADDOCK software. The best-docked complex was selected and visualized for intermolecular binding and interactions using UCSF Chimera 1.16 software. The findings revealed that the designed vaccine might be a potential vaccine against hantavirus and can be used in experimental animal model testings.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taghreed N Almanaa
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayman Mubarak
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Sajjad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Asad Ullah
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hassan
- Department of Pharmacy, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan
| | - Yasir Waheed
- Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, Pakistan
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Saifullah Khan
- Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad Ahmad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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7
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Ullah A, Ul Haq M, Iqbal M, Irfan M, Khan S, Muhammad R, Ullah A, Khurram M, Alharbi M, Alasmari AF, Ahmad S. A computational quest for identifying potential vaccine candidates against Moraxella lacunata: a multi-pronged approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024; 42:2976-2989. [PMID: 37177816 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2212793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Moraxella lacunata is an emerging gram-negative bacterium that is responsible for multiple nosocomial infections. The bacterium is evolving resistance to several antibiotics, and currently, no effective licensed vaccines are available, which warrants the search for new therapeutics. A multi-epitope-based vaccine has been designed for M. lacunata. The complete proteome of M. lacunata contains 10,110 core proteins. Subcellular localization analysis revealed the presence of five proteins in the extracellular matrix, while 19 proteins were predicted to be located in the outer membrane, and 21 proteins were predicted to be located in the periplasmic region. Only two proteins, the type VI secretion system tube protein (Hcp) and the transporter substrate-binding domain-containing protein, were selected for epitope prediction as they fulfilled all the criteria for being potential vaccine candidates. Shortlisted epitopes from the selected proteins were fused together using "GPGPG" linkers to overcome the limitations of single-epitope vaccines. Next, the cholera toxin-B adjuvant was attached to the peptide epitope using an EAAAK linker. Docking analysis was performed to examine the interaction between the vaccine and immune cell receptors, revealing robust intermolecular interactions and a stable binding conformation. Molecular dynamics simulation findings revealed no drastic changes in the binding conformation of complexes during the simulation period. The net binding free energy of vaccine-receptor complexes was estimated using the molecular mechanics energies combined with the Poisson-Boltzmann and surface area continuum solvation (MM-PBSA) method. The reported values were -586.38 kcal/mol, -283.74 kcal/mol, and -296.88 kcal/mol for the TLR-4-vaccine complex, MHC-I-vaccine complex, and MHC-II-vaccine complex, respectively. Furthermore, the molecular mechanics energies combined with the generalized Born and surface area continuum solvation (MM-GBSA) analysis predicted binding free energies of -596.69 kcal/mol, -287.39 kcal/mol, and -298.28 kcal/mol for the TLR-4-vaccine complex, MHC-I-vaccine complex, and MHC-II-vaccine complex, respectively. The theoretical vaccine design proposed in the study could potentially serve as a powerful therapeutic against targeted pathogens, subject to validation through experimental studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Ullah
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Mahboob Ul Haq
- Department of Pharmacy, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Madiha Iqbal
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- College of Dentistry, Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Saifullah Khan
- Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Pakistan
| | - Riaz Muhammad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Amin Ullah
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | | | - Metab Alharbi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah F Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sajjad Ahmad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan
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8
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Tamanna T, Rahman MS. Leveraging immunoinformatics for developing a multi-epitope subunit vaccine against Helicobacter pylori and Fusobacterium nucleatum. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-14. [PMID: 38116749 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2292295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Gastric ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori and Fusobacterium nucleatum remain a significant global health concern without an established vaccine. In this study, we utilized immunoinformatics methods to design a multi-epitope vaccine targeting these pathogens. Outer membrane proteins from H. pylori and F. nucleatum were scrutinized to identify high antigenic T-cell and B-cell epitopes. The resulting vaccine comprised carefully analyzed and evaluated epitopes, including cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, helper T-lymphocytes, and linear B-lymphocytes epitopes. This vaccine exhibited notable antigenicity, suitable immunogenicity, and demonstrated non-allergenicity and non-toxicity. It displayed favorable physiochemical characteristics and high solubility. In interaction studies, the vaccine exhibited robust binding to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Molecular dynamic simulations revealed cohesive structural integrity and stable attachment. Codon adaptation utilizing Escherichia coli K12 host yielded a vaccine with elevated Codon Adaptation Index (CAI) and optimal GC content. In silico cloning into the pET28+(a) vector demonstrated efficient expression. Immune simulations indicated the vaccine's ability to initiate immune responses in humans, mirroring real-life scenarios. Based on these comprehensive findings, we propose that our developed vaccine has the potential to confer robust immunity against H. pylori and F. nucleatum infections.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanjin Tamanna
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
- Bioinformatics and Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Md Shahedur Rahman
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
- Bioinformatics and Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
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9
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Oladipo EK, Ojo TO, Olufemi SE, Irewolede BA, Adediran DA, Abiala AG, Hezekiah OS, Idowu AF, Oladeji YG, Ikuomola MO, Olayinka AT, Akanbi GO, Idowu UA, Olubodun OA, Odunlami FD, Ogunniran JA, Akinro OP, Adegoke HM, Folakanmi EO, Usman TA, Oladokun EF, Oluwasanya GJ, Awobiyi HO, Oluwasegun JA, Akintibubo SA, Jimah EM. Proteome based analysis of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants: approach to a universal vaccine candidate. Genes Genomics 2023; 45:1489-1508. [PMID: 37548884 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-023-01426-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of the first infectious variant in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has posed concerns over global health due to the spread of COVID-19 and subsequent variants. While the majority of patients experience flu-like symptoms such as cold and fever, a small percentage, particularly those with compromised immune systems, progress from mild illness to fatality. COVID-19 is caused by a RNA virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Our approach involved utilizing immunoinformatic to identify vaccine candidates with multiple epitopes and ligand-binding regions in reported SARS-CoV-2 variants. Through analysis of the spike glycoprotein, we identified dominant epitopes for T-cells and B-cells, resulting in a vaccine construct containing two helper T-cell epitopes, six cytotoxic T-cell epitopes, and four linear B-cell epitopes. Prior to conjugation with adjuvants and linkers, all epitopes were evaluated for antigenicity, toxicity, and allergenicity. Additionally, we assessed the vaccine Toll-Like Receptors complex (2, 3, and 4). The vaccine construct demonstrated antigenicity, non-toxicity, and non-allergenicity, thereby enabling the host to generate antibodies with favorable physicochemical characteristics. Furthermore, the 3D structure of the B-cell construct exhibited a ProSA-web z-score plot with a value of -1.71, indicating the reliability of the designed structure. The Ramachandran plot analysis revealed that 99.6% of the amino acid residues in the vaccine subunit were located in the high favored observation region, further establishing its strong candidacy as a vaccination option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah Kolawole Oladipo
- Department of Microbiology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Immunology and Informatics, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria.
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
| | - Taiwo Ooreoluwa Ojo
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Seun Elijah Olufemi
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | | | - Daniel Adewole Adediran
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Asegunloluwa Grace Abiala
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Oluwaseun Samuel Hezekiah
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Akindele Felix Idowu
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Yinmi Gabriel Oladeji
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Mary Omotoyinbo Ikuomola
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Adenike Titilayo Olayinka
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Gideon Oluwamayowa Akanbi
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Microbiology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Usman Abiodun Idowu
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Microbiology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Odunola Abimbola Olubodun
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Folusho Daniel Odunlami
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - James Akinwumi Ogunniran
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Omodamola Paulina Akinro
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Microbiology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Hadijat Motunrayo Adegoke
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Computational Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Folakanmi
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | | | - Elizabeth Folakemi Oladokun
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Microbiology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Jerry Ayobami Oluwasegun
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Samuel Adebowale Akintibubo
- Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Microbiology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
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Tabibpour NS, Doosti A, Sharifzadeh A. Putative novel outer membrane antigens multi-epitope DNA vaccine candidates identified by Immunoinformatic approaches to control Acinetobacter baumannii. BMC Immunol 2023; 24:46. [PMID: 37980458 PMCID: PMC10657578 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-023-00585-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Multi-epitope polypeptide vaccines, a fusion protein, often have a string-of-beads system composed of various specific peptide epitopes, potential adjuvants, and linkers. When choosing the sequence of various segments and linkers, many alternatives are available. These variables can influence the vaccine's effectiveness through their effects on physicochemical properties and polypeptide tertiary structure.The most conserved antigens were discovered using BLASTn. To forecast the proteins' subcellular distribution, PSORTb 3.0.2 was used. Vaxign was used for the preliminary screening and antigenicity assessment. Protein solubility was also predicted using the ccSOL omics. Using PRED-TMBB, it was anticipated that the protein would localize across membranes. The IEDB and BepiPred-2.0 databases were used to predict the immunogenicity of B cell epitopes. A multi-epitope construct was developed and analyzed to evaluate. Twenty epitopes from A. baumannii's outer membrane protein (omp) were included in the vaccination. TLR4 agonist explosibility was investigated. The physicochemical characteristics, secondary and tertiary structures, and B-cell epitopes of vaccine constructs were assessed. Additionally, docking and MD experiments were used to examine the relationship between TLR4 and its agonist.Thirteen antigens were discovered, and eight of the 13 chosen proteins were predicted to be surface proteins. The 34 kDa outer membrane protein, Omp38, Omp W, CarO, putative porin, OmpA, were chosen as having the right antigenicity (≥0.5). FhuE and CdiA were eliminated from further study because of their low antigenicity. The vaccine design was developed by combining the most effective 10 B-cell and 10 MHC-I/MHCII combined coverage epitopes. The molecular formula of the vaccine was determined to be C1718H2615N507O630S17. The vaccine form has a molecular weight of 40,996.70 Da and 47 negatively charged residues (Asp + Glu), whereas 28 positively charged residues (Arg + Lys). The estimated half-life was 7.2 hours (mammalian reticulocytes, in vitro), > 20 hours (yeast, in vivo) and > 10 hours (Escherichia coli, in vivo) for the vaccine. The multi-epitope vaccine insertion is carried via the expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+).The multi-epitope vaccine may stimulate humoral and cellular immune responses, according to our findings, and it may be a candidate for an A. baumannii vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niloofar Sadat Tabibpour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Abbas Doosti
- Biotechnology Research Center, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
| | - Ali Sharifzadeh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord Branch, Shahrekord, Iran
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Sabei FY, Y Safhi A, Almoshari Y, Salawi A, H Sultan M, Ali Bakkari M, Alsalhi A, A Madkhali O, M Jali A, Ahsan W. Structure-based virtual screening of natural compounds as inhibitors of HCV using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-12. [PMID: 37776007 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2263588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV), which causes hepatitis C, is a viral infection that damages the liver and causes inflammation in the liver. New potentially effective antiviral drugs are required for its treatment owing to various issues associated with the existing medications, including moderate to severe adverse effects, higher costs, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. The objective of the current study was to utilize computational techniques to assess the anti-HCV efficacy of certain phytochemicals against tetraspanin (CD81) and claudin 1 (CLDN1) entry proteins. A 200-nanosecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to examine the stability of the lead-protein complexes. Free binding energy and molecular docking calculations were conducted utilizing MM/GBSA method, and the selectivity of hit compounds for CD81 and CLDN1 was determined. Five significant CD81 and CLDN1 inhibitors were identified: Petasiphenone, Silibinin, Tanshinone IIA, Taxifolin, and Topaquinone. The MM/GBSA analysis of the compounds revealed high free binding energies. All the identified compounds were stable within the CD81 and CLDN1 binding pockets. This study indicated the promising inhibitory potential of the identified compounds against CD81 and CLDN1 receptors and might develop into potential viral entry inhibitors. However, to validate the chemotherapeutic capabilities of the discovered leads extensive preclinical research is required.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad Y Sabei
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Awaji Y Safhi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yosif Almoshari
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Salawi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad H Sultan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Ali Bakkari
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Alsalhi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama A Madkhali
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmajeed M Jali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Waquar Ahsan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
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12
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In silico design of a polypeptide as a vaccine candidate against ascariasis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3504. [PMID: 36864139 PMCID: PMC9981566 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30445-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ascariasis is the most prevalent zoonotic helminthic disease worldwide, and is responsible for nutritional deficiencies, particularly hindering the physical and neurological development of children. The appearance of anthelmintic resistance in Ascaris is a risk for the target of eliminating ascariasis as a public health problem by 2030 set by the World Health Organisation. The development of a vaccine could be key to achieving this target. Here we have applied an in silico approach to design a multi-epitope polypeptide that contains T-cell and B-cell epitopes of reported novel potential vaccination targets, alongside epitopes from established vaccination candidates. An artificial toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) adjuvant (RS09) was added to improve immunogenicity. The constructed peptide was found to be non-allergic, non-toxic, with adequate antigenic and physicochemical characteristics, such as solubility and potential expression in Escherichia coli. A tertiary structure of the polypeptide was used to predict the presence of discontinuous B-cell epitopes and to confirm the molecular binding stability with TLR2 and TLR4 molecules. Immune simulations predicted an increase in B-cell and T-cell immune response after injection. This polypeptide can now be validated experimentally and compared to other vaccine candidates to assess its possible impact in human health.
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Vaccinomics to Design a Multiepitope Vaccine against Legionella pneumophila. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:4975721. [PMID: 36164443 PMCID: PMC9509222 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4975721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila is found in the natural aquatic environment and can resist a wide range of environmental conditions. There are around fifty species of Legionella, at least twenty-four of which are directly linked to infections in humans. L. pneumophila is the cause of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially lethal form of pneumonia. By blocking phagosome-lysosome fusion, L. pneumophila lives and proliferates inside macrophages. For this disease, there is presently no authorized multiepitope vaccine available. For the multi-epitope-based vaccine (MEBV), the best antigenic candidates were identified using immunoinformatics and subtractive proteomic techniques. Several immunoinformatics methods were utilized to predict B and T cell epitopes from vaccine candidate proteins. To construct an in silico vaccine, epitopes (07 CTL, 03 HTL, and 07 LBL) were carefully selected and docked with MHC molecules (MHC-I and MHC-II) and human TLR4 molecules. To increase the immunological response, the vaccine was combined with a 50S ribosomal adjuvant. To maximize vaccine protein expression, MEBV was cloned and reverse-translated in Escherichia coli. To prove the MEBV's efficacy, more experimental validation is required. After its development, the resulting vaccine is greatly hoped to aid in the prevention of L. pneumophila infections.
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Dhanda SK, Malviya J, Gupta S. Not all T cell epitopes are equally desired: a review of in silico tools for the prediction of cytokine-inducing potential of T-cell epitopes. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:6692551. [PMID: 36070623 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessment of protective or harmful T cell response induced by any antigenic epitope is important in designing any immunotherapeutic molecule. The understanding of cytokine induction potential also helps us to monitor antigen-specific cellular immune responses and rational vaccine design. The classical immunoinformatics tools served well for prediction of B cell and T cell epitopes. However, in the last decade, the prediction algorithms for T cell epitope inducing specific cytokines have also been developed and appreciated in the scientific community. This review summarizes the current status of such tools, their applications, background algorithms, their use in experimental setup and functionalities available in the tools/web servers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kumar Dhanda
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA-38015.,Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Chennai, India
| | - Jitendra Malviya
- Department of Life Sciences and Biological Science, IES University Bhopal, India
| | - Sudheer Gupta
- NGS & Bioinformatics Division, 3B BlackBio Biotech India Ltd., 7-C, Industrial Area, Govindpura, Bhopal, India
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15
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Bioinformatics, Computational Informatics, and Modeling Approaches to the Design of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates. COMPUTATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/computation10070117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
This article is devoted to applying bioinformatics and immunoinformatics approaches for the development of a multi-epitope mRNA vaccine against the spike glycoproteins of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in selected African countries. The study’s relevance is dictated by the fact that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began its global threat at the end of 2019 and since then has had a devastating impact on the whole world. Measures to reduce threats from the pandemic include social restrictions, restrictions on international travel, and vaccine development. In most cases, vaccine development depends on the spike glycoprotein, which serves as a medium for its entry into host cells. Although several variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged from mutations crossing continental boundaries, about 6000 delta variants have been reported along the coast of more than 20 countries in Africa, with South Africa accounting for the highest percentage. This also applies to the omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in South Africa. The authors suggest that bioinformatics and immunoinformatics approaches be used to develop a multi-epitope mRNA vaccine against the spike glycoproteins of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in selected African countries. Various immunoinformatics tools have been used to predict T- and B-lymphocyte epitopes. The epitopes were further subjected to multiple evaluations to select epitopes that could elicit a sustained immunological response. The candidate vaccine consisted of seven epitopes, a highly immunogenic adjuvant, an MHC I-targeting domain (MITD), a signal peptide, and linkers. The molecular weight (MW) was predicted to be 223.1 kDa, well above the acceptable threshold of 110 kDa on an excellent vaccine candidate. In addition, the results showed that the candidate vaccine was antigenic, non-allergenic, non-toxic, thermostable, and hydrophilic. The vaccine candidate has good population coverage, with the highest range in East Africa (80.44%) followed by South Africa (77.23%). West Africa and North Africa have 76.65% and 76.13%, respectively, while Central Africa (75.64%) has minimal coverage. Among seven epitopes, no mutations were observed in 100 randomly selected SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins in the study area. Evaluation of the secondary structure of the vaccine constructs revealed a stabilized structure showing 36.44% alpha-helices, 20.45% drawn filaments, and 33.38% random helices. Molecular docking of the TLR4 vaccine showed that the simulated vaccine has a high binding affinity for TLR-4, reflecting its ability to stimulate the innate and adaptive immune response.
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Albutti A. Proteome-Wide and Protein-Specific Multi-Epitope Vaccine Constructs Against the Rift Valley Fever Virus Outbreak Using Integrated Omics Approaches. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:921683. [PMID: 35711778 PMCID: PMC9195176 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.921683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral disease caused by a member of the Bunyavirales family causing severe infections in humans. The RVF virus is an enveloped, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that can infect both animals and humans. The symptoms associated with these infections span from minor (fever and headaches) to severe (meningoencephalitis and hemorrhagic fever syndrome) symptoms. Despite the outbreaks of the RVF virus being reported in different parts of the world, no effective therapy is available. Herein, the development of an efficient vaccine is critical for the control of infections associated with the RVF virus. Moreover, computational vaccine approaches are helpful in the design of specific, safe, and stable peptide-based designs when compared to the conventional methods of vaccine development. In this study, the whole proteome of the virus, comprising four proteins (NP, L, GP, and NSP), was screened to find putative vaccine epitope sequences (T cell, B cell, and HTL) specific for each protein. These shortlisted epitopes were then combined with flexible linkers to design protein-specific and proteome-wide immunogenic multi-epitope-based vaccine constructs. The results revealed that these multi-epitope vaccine constructs (MEVCs) are strongly antigenic and non-allergenic in nature. The efficacy of these constructs was further validated by docking with immune receptors, which revealed strong binding interactions with human TLR8. Using the MD simulation approach, the binding stability and residual flexibility of the best vaccine construct (proteome-wide) were confirmed, which revealed stable dynamic and favorable features. Furthermore, in-silico cloning and immune simulation analysis confirmed the expression and production of immune factors, that is, IgM, IgG, and IL-6, against the proposed vaccine designs. Additionally, 3D models of all the MEVC constructs have been developed and evaluated for potential immunization against the RVF virus. Finally, the proteome-wide vaccine candidate (MEVC-PW-RVFV) with the highest immune reinforcement potential provides new insights into the development of future vaccines against the emerging RVF virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aqel Albutti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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17
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Noor F, Ahmad S, Saleem M, Alshaya H, Qasim M, Rehman A, Ehsan H, Talib N, Saleem H, Bin Jardan YA, Aslam S. Designing a multi-epitope vaccine against Chlamydia pneumoniae by integrating the core proteomics, subtractive proteomics and reverse vaccinology-based immunoinformatics approaches. Comput Biol Med 2022; 145:105507. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Al-Megrin WAI, Karkashan A, Alnuqaydan AM, Aba Alkhayl FF, Alrumaihi F, Almatroudi A, Allemailem KS. Design of a Multi-Epitopes Based Chimeric Vaccine against Enterobacter cloacae Using Pan-Genome and Reverse Vaccinology Approaches. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10060886. [PMID: 35746494 PMCID: PMC9227637 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10060886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterobacter cloacae (EC) is a significant emerging pathogen that is occasionally associated with lung infection, surgical site infection, urinary infection, sepsis, and outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units. In light of the fact that there is currently no approved vaccine or therapeutic option for the treatment of EC, the current study was developed to concentrate on applications based on modern computational approaches to design a multi-epitope-based E. cloacae peptide vaccine (MEBEPV) expressing the antigenic determinants prioritized from the EC genome. Integrated computational analyses identified two potential protein targets (phosphoporin protein-PhoE and putative outer-membrane porin protein) for further exploration on the basis of pangenome subtractive proteomics and immunoinformatic in-depth examination of the core proteomes. Then, a multi-epitope peptide vaccine was designed, which comprised shortlisted epitopes that were capable of eliciting both innate and adaptive immunity, as well as the cholera toxin’s B-subunit, which was used as an adjuvant in the vaccine formulation. To ensure maximum expression, the vaccine’s 3D structure was developed and the loop was refined, improving the stability by disulfide engineering, and the physicochemical characteristics of the recombinant vaccine sequence were found to be ideal for both in vitro and in vivo experimentation. Blind docking was then used for the prediction of the MEBEPV predominant blinding mode with MHCI, MHCII, and TLR3 innate immune receptors, with lowest global energy of −18.64 kJ/mol, −48.25 kJ/mol, and −5.20 kJ/mol for MHC-I, MHC-II, and TLR-4, respectively, with docked complexes considered for simulation. In MD and MMGBSA investigations, the docked models of MEBEPV-TLR3, MEBEPV-MHCI, and MEBEPV-MHCII were found to be stable during the course of the simulation. MM-GBSA analysis calculated −122.17 total net binding free energies for the TLR3-vaccine complex, −125.4 for the MHC I-vaccine complex, and −187.94 for the MHC II-vaccine complex. Next, MM-PBSA analysis calculated −115.63 binding free energy for the TLR3-vaccine complex, −118.19 for the MHC I-vaccine complex, and −184.61 for the MHC II-vaccine complex. When the vaccine was tested in silico, researchers discovered that it was capable of inducing both types of immune responses (cell mediated and humoral) at the same time. Even though the suggested MEBEPV has the potential to be a powerful contender against E. cloacae-associated illnesses, further testing in the laboratory will be required before it can be declared safe and immunogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wafa Abdullah I. Al-Megrin
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (W.A.I.A.-M.); (K.S.A.)
| | - Alaa Karkashan
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Abdullah M. Alnuqaydan
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Faris F. Aba Alkhayl
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Buraydah Colleges, Buraydah 51418, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faris Alrumaihi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Ahmad Almatroudi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Khaled S. Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.A.); (F.A.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: (W.A.I.A.-M.); (K.S.A.)
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Hashem S, Ali TA, Akhtar S, Nisar S, Sageena G, Ali S, Al-Mannai S, Therachiyil L, Mir R, Elfaki I, Mir MM, Jamal F, Masoodi T, Uddin S, Singh M, Haris M, Macha M, Bhat AA. Targeting cancer signaling pathways by natural products: Exploring promising anti-cancer agents. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 150:113054. [PMID: 35658225 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and significantly burdens the healthcare system. Due to its prevalence, there is undoubtedly an unmet need to discover novel anticancer drugs. The use of natural products as anticancer agents is an acceptable therapeutic approach due to accessibility, applicability, and reduced cytotoxicity. Natural products have been an incomparable source of anticancer drugs in the modern era of drug discovery. Along with their derivatives and analogs, natural products play a major role in cancer treatment by modulating the cancer microenvironment and different signaling pathways. These compounds are effective against several signaling pathways, mainly cell death pathways (apoptosis and autophagy) and embryonic developmental pathways (Notch pathway, Wnt pathway, and Hedgehog pathway). The historical record of natural products is strong, but there is a need to investigate the current role of natural products in the discovery and development of cancer drugs and determine the possibility of natural products being an important source of future therapeutic agents. Many target-specific anticancer drugs failed to provide successful results, which accounts for a need to investigate natural products with multi-target characteristics to achieve better outcomes. The potential of natural products to be promising novel compounds for cancer treatment makes them an important area of research. This review explores the significance of natural products in inhibiting the various signaling pathways that serve as drivers of carcinogenesis and thus pave the way for developing and discovering anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheema Hashem
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tayyiba Akbar Ali
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Akhtar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabah Nisar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Shahid Ali
- International Potato Center (CIP), Shillong, Meghalaya, India
| | - Sharefa Al-Mannai
- Division of Translational Medicine, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Lubna Therachiyil
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rashid Mir
- Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Research chair, Department Of Medical Lab Technology, FAMS, University of Tabuk,Saudi Arabia
| | - Imadeldin Elfaki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Muzaffar Mir
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Farrukh Jamal
- Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya, India
| | - Tariq Masoodi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mayank Singh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Muzafar Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Kashmir, India.
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
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Attar R, Alatawi EA, Aba Alkhayl FF, Alharbi KN, Allemailem KS, Almatroudi A. Immunoinformatics and Biophysics Approaches to Design a Novel Multi-Epitopes Vaccine Design against Staphylococcus auricularis. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050637. [PMID: 35632394 PMCID: PMC9146471 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the misuse of antibiotics in our daily lives, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a major health problem. Penicillin, the first antibiotic, was used in the 1930s and led to the emergence of AMR. Due to alterations in the microbe’s genome and the evolution of new resistance mechanisms, antibiotics are losing efficacy against microbes. There are high rates of mortality and morbidity due to antibiotic resistance, so addressing this major health issue requires new approaches. Staphylococcus auricularis is a Gram-positive cocci and is capable of causing opportunistic infections and sepsis. S. auricularis is resistant to several antibiotics and does not currently have a licensed vaccine. In this study, we used bacterial pan-genome analysis (BPGA) to study S. auricularis pan-genome and applied a reverse immunology approach to prioritize vaccine targets against S. auricularis. A total of 15,444 core proteins were identified by BPGA analysis, which were then used to identify good vaccine candidates considering potential vaccine filters. Two vaccine candidates were evaluated for epitope prediction including the superoxide dismutase and gamma-glutamyl transferase protein. The epitope prediction phase involved the prediction of a variety of B-Cell and T-cell epitopes, and the epitopes that met certain criteria, such as antigenicity, immunogenicity, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity were chosen. A multi-epitopes vaccine construct was then constructed from all the predicted epitopes, and a cholera toxin B-subunit adjuvant was also added to increase vaccine antigenicity. Three-dimensional models of the vaccine were used for downward analyses. Using the best-modeled structure, binding potency was tested with MHC-I, MHC-II and TLR-4 immune cells receptors, proving that the vaccine binds strongly with the receptors. Further, molecular dynamics simulations interpreted strong intermolecular binding between the vaccine and receptors and confirmed the vaccine epitopes exposed to the host immune system. The results support that the vaccine candidate may be capable of eliciting a protective immune response against S. auricularis and may be a promising candidate for experimental in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roba Attar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Eid A. Alatawi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Faris F. Aba Alkhayl
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.A.); (K.N.A.); (K.S.A.)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Dentistry and Pharmacy, Buraydah Colleges, Buraydah 51418, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khloud Nawaf Alharbi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.A.); (K.N.A.); (K.S.A.)
| | - Khaled S. Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.A.); (K.N.A.); (K.S.A.)
| | - Ahmad Almatroudi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (F.F.A.A.); (K.N.A.); (K.S.A.)
- Correspondence:
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Recent Advances in Vaccine Technology and Design. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10040624. [PMID: 35455372 PMCID: PMC9032280 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10040624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
If up until three years ago, infectious diseases were a lesser concern when compared to non-communicable diseases in Western countries, the ongoing pandemic has reminded us that things are not so clean-cut [...].
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Designing of a Recombinant Multi-Epitopes Based Vaccine against Enterococcus mundtii Using Bioinformatics and Immunoinformatics Approaches. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063729. [PMID: 35329417 PMCID: PMC8949936 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Enterococcus species are an emerging group of bacterial pathogens that have a significant role in hospital-associated infections and are associated with higher mortality and morbidity rates. Among these pathogens, Enterococcus mundtii is one of the causative agents of multiple hospital associated infections. Currently, no commercially available licensed vaccine is present, and multi-drug resistant strains of the pathogen are prominent. Due to several limitations of experimental vaccinology, computational vaccine designing proved to be helpful in vaccine designing against several bacterial pathogens. Herein, we designed a multi-epitope-based vaccine against E. mundtii using in silico approaches. After an in-depth analysis of the core genome, three probable antigenic proteins (lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase, siderophore ABC transporter substrate-binding protein, and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase) were shortlisted for epitope prediction. Among predicted epitopes, ten epitopes-GPADGRIAS, TTINHGGAQA, SERTALSVTT, GDGGNGGGEV, GIKEPDLEK, KQADDRIEA, QAIGGDTSN, EPLDEQTASR, AQWEPQSIEA, QPLKFSDFEL-were selected for multi-epitope vaccine construct designing. The screened B- and T-cell epitopes were joined with each other via specific linkers and linked to the cholera toxin B subunit as an adjuvant to enhance vaccine immune protection efficacy. The designed vaccine construct induced cellular and humoral immune responses. Blind docking with immune cell receptors, followed by molecular dynamic simulation results confirms the good binding potency and stability of the vaccine in providing protection against the pathogen.
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Designing a Recombinant Vaccine against Providencia rettgeri Using Immunoinformatics Approach. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10020189. [PMID: 35214648 PMCID: PMC8876559 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10020189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance (AR) is the resistance mechanism pattern in bacteria that evolves over some time, thus protecting the bacteria against antibiotics. AR is due to bacterial evolution to make itself fit to changing environmental conditions in a quest for survival of the fittest. AR has emerged due to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs, and few antibiotics are now left to deal with these superbug infections. To combat AR, vaccination is an effective method, used either therapeutically or prophylactically. In the current study, an in silico approach was applied for the design of multi-epitope-based vaccines against Providencia rettgeri, a major cause of traveler’s diarrhea. A total of six proteins: fimbrial protein, flagellar hook protein (FlgE), flagellar basal body L-ring protein (FlgH), flagellar hook-basal body complex protein (FliE), flagellar basal body P-ring formation protein (FlgA), and Gram-negative pili assembly chaperone domain proteins, were considered as vaccine targets and were utilized for B- and T-cell epitope prediction. The predicted epitopes were assessed for allergenicity, antigenicity, virulence, toxicity, and solubility. Moreover, filtered epitopes were utilized in multi-epitope vaccine construction. The predicted epitopes were joined with each other through specific GPGPG linkers and were joined with cholera toxin B subunit adjuvant via another EAAAK linker in order to enhance the efficacy of the designed vaccine. Docking studies of the designed vaccine construct were performed with MHC-I (PDB ID: 1I1Y), MHC-II (1KG0), and TLR-4 (4G8A). Findings of the docking study were validated through molecular dynamic simulations, which confirmed that the designed vaccine showed strong interactions with the immune receptors, and that the epitopes were exposed to the host immune system for proper recognition and processing. Additionally, binding free energies were estimated, which highlighted both electrostatic energy and van der Waals forces to make the complexes stable. Briefly, findings of the current study are promising and may help experimental vaccinologists to formulate a novel multi-epitope vaccine against P. rettgeri.
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Designing a novel in-silico multi-epitope vaccine against penicillin-binding protein 2A in Staphylococcus aureus. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2022.101080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Fatima I, Ahmad S, Abbasi SW, Ashfaq UA, Shahid F, Tahir Ul Qamar M, Rehman A, Allemailem KS. Designing of a multi-epitopes-based peptide vaccine against rift valley fever virus and its validation through integrated computational approaches. Comput Biol Med 2021; 141:105151. [PMID: 34942394 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.105151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Since its discovery, the Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) has been the source of numerous outbreaks in the Arab Peninsulas and Africa, wreaking havoc on humans and animals. The lack of therapeutics or licensed human vaccines limits the options for controlling RVFV outbreaks. Therefore, RVFV has been prioritized for rapid research and innovation of prevention strategies to control and prevent its outbreaks. The purpose of this study was to design a multi-epitope-based peptide vaccine (MEBPV) against RVFV. Bioinformatics approaches were used to design a potent MEBPV that can potentially activate both CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell immune responses, and several computational tools were employed to investigate its biological activities. Three antigenic proteins (Nucleocapsid (N), Glycoprotein C (GC), and Glycoprotein N (GN)) from the RVFV were chosen and potential immunogenic T- and B -cell epitopes were predicted from them. Based on in silico analysis, a MEBPV based on highly scored T and B-cell epitopes (6 CTL, 5 HTL, and 4 LBL) combined with linkers and adjuvants was developed. The finest predicted model was used for docking studies with Toll-like receptors (TLR3 and TLR8) and MHC molecules (MHC I and MHC II) after predicting and analyzing the tertiary structure of MEBPV. The designed MEBPV was then tested for stability with TLR3 and TLR8 receptors using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and MMGBSA analysis. The MEBPV -TLR3, MEBPV -TLR8, MEBPV-MHC I and MEBPV -MHC II docked models were found stable during simulation time in MD and MMGBSA studies. In silico analysis revealed that the constructed vaccine could elicit both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses simultaneously. The proposed MEBPV could be a strong candidate against RVFV, but it will need to be tested in the laboratory to guarantee its safety and immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israr Fatima
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Sajjad Ahmad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
| | - Sumra Wajid Abbasi
- NUMS Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
| | - Usman Ali Ashfaq
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Farah Shahid
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | | | - Abdur Rehman
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
| | - Khaled S Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
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Umar A, Haque A, Alghamdi YS, Mashraqi MM, Rehman A, Shahid F, Khurshid M, Ashfaq UA. Development of a Candidate Multi-Epitope Subunit Vaccine against Klebsiella aerogenes: Subtractive Proteomics and Immuno-Informatics Approach. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9111373. [PMID: 34835304 PMCID: PMC8624419 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9111373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella aerogenes is a Gram-negative bacterium which has gained considerable importance in recent years. It is involved in 10% of nosocomial and community-acquired urinary tract infections and 12% of hospital-acquired pneumonia. This organism has an intrinsic ability to produce inducible chromosomal AmpC beta-lactamases, which confer high resistance. The drug resistance in K. aerogenes has been reported in China, Israel, Poland, Italy and the United States, with a high mortality rate (~50%). This study aims to combine immunological approaches with molecular docking approaches for three highly antigenic proteins to design vaccines against K. aerogenes. The synthesis of the B-cell, T-cell (CTL and HTL) and IFN-γ epitopes of the targeted proteins was performed and most conserved epitopes were chosen for future research studies. The vaccine was predicted by connecting the respective epitopes, i.e., B cells, CTL and HTL with KK, AAY and GPGPG linkers and all these were connected with N-terminal adjuvants with EAAAK linker. The humoral response of the constructed vaccine was measured through IFN-γ and B-cell epitopes. Before being used as vaccine candidate, all identified B-cell, HTL and CTL epitopes were tested for antigenicity, allergenicity and toxicity to check the safety profiles of our vaccine. To find out the compatibility of constructed vaccine with receptors, MHC-I, followed by MHC-II and TLR4 receptors, was docked with the vaccine. Lastly, in order to precisely certify the proper expression and integrity of our construct, in silico cloning was carried out. Further studies are needed to confirm the safety features and immunogenicity of the vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahitsham Umar
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (A.U.); (A.H.); (A.R.); (F.S.)
| | - Asma Haque
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (A.U.); (A.H.); (A.R.); (F.S.)
| | - Youssef Saeed Alghamdi
- Department of Biology, Turabah University College, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mutaib M Mashraqi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Abdur Rehman
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (A.U.); (A.H.); (A.R.); (F.S.)
| | - Farah Shahid
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (A.U.); (A.H.); (A.R.); (F.S.)
| | - Mohsin Khurshid
- Department of Microbiology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan;
| | - Usman Ali Ashfaq
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (A.U.); (A.H.); (A.R.); (F.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Allergic Diseases: A Comprehensive Review on Risk Factors, Immunological Mechanisms, Link with COVID-19, Potential Treatments, and Role of Allergen Bioinformatics. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182212105. [PMID: 34831860 PMCID: PMC8622387 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of allergic diseases is regarded as one of the key challenges in health worldwide. Although the precise mechanisms underlying this rapid increase in prevalence are unknown, emerging evidence suggests that genetic and environmental factors play a significant role. The immune system, microbiota, viruses, and bacteria have all been linked to the onset of allergy disorders in recent years. Avoiding allergen exposure is the best treatment option; however, steroids, antihistamines, and other symptom-relieving drugs are also used. Allergen bioinformatics encompasses both computational tools/methods and allergen-related data resources for managing, archiving, and analyzing allergological data. This study highlights allergy-promoting mechanisms, algorithms, and concepts in allergen bioinformatics, as well as major areas for future research in the field of allergology.
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Almihyawi RAH, Al-Hasani HMH, Jassim TS, Muhseen ZT, Zhang S, Chen G. Molecular Insights into Binding Mode and Interactions of Structure-Based Virtually Screened Inhibitors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Multiple Virulence Factor Regulator (MvfR). Molecules 2021; 26:6811. [PMID: 34833903 PMCID: PMC8619476 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-drug resistance (MDR) bacterial pathogens pose a threat to global health and warrant the discovery of new therapeutic molecules, particularly those that can neutralize their virulence and stop the evolution of new resistant mechanisms. The superbug nosocomial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, uses a multiple virulence factor regulator (MvfR) to regulate the expression of multiple virulence proteins during acute and persistent infections. The present study targeted MvfR with the intention of designing novel anti-virulent compounds, which will function in two ways: first, they will block the virulence and pathogenesis P. aeruginosa by disrupting the quorum-sensing network of the bacteria, and second, they will stop the evolution of new resistant mechanisms. A structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) method was used to screen druglike compounds from the Asinex antibacterial library (~5968 molecules) and the comprehensive marine natural products database (CMNPD) (~32 thousand compounds), against the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of MvfR, to identify molecules that show high binding potential for the relevant pocket. In this way, two compounds were identified: Top-1 (4-((carbamoyloxy)methyl)-10,10-dihydroxy-2,6-diiminiodecahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]purin-9-yl sulfate) and Top-2 (10,10-dihydroxy-2,6-diiminio-4-(((sulfonatocarbamoyl)oxy)methyl)decahydropyrrolo[1,2-c]purin-9-yl sulfate), in contrast to the co-crystallized M64 control. Both of the screened leads were found to show deep pocket binding and interactions with several key residues through a network of hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions. The docking results were validated by a long run of 200 ns of molecular dynamics simulation and MM-PB/GBSA binding free energies. All of these analyses confirmed the presence of strong complex formation and rigorous intermolecular interactions. An additional analysis of normal mode entropy and a WaterSwap assay were also performed to complement the aforementioned studies. Lastly, the compounds were found to show an acceptable range of pharmacokinetic properties, making both compounds potential candidates for further experimental studies to decipher their real biological potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed A. H. Almihyawi
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China;
- Department of Quality Control, Baghdad Water Authority, Baghdad 10011, Iraq
| | - Halah M. H. Al-Hasani
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Diyala, Baqubah 32001, Iraq;
| | - Tabarak Sabah Jassim
- Department of Prosthodontic Technologies, Dijlah University College, Baghdad 00964, Iraq;
| | - Ziyad Tariq Muhseen
- School of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China;
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Medicinal Plant Resource and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, China
| | - Sitong Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China;
- Key Laboratory of Straw Biology and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Jilin 130118, China
| | - Guang Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China;
- Key Laboratory of Straw Biology and Utilization, Ministry of Education, Jilin 130118, China
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Albutti A. An integrated computational framework to design a multi-epitopes vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21929. [PMID: 34753983 PMCID: PMC8578660 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious disease that mostly affects the lungs and is caused by a bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The associated mortality rate of TB is much higher compared to any other disease and the situation is more worrisome by the rapid emergence of drug resistant strains. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the only licensed attenuated vaccine available for use in humans however, many countries have stopped its use as it fails to confer protective immunity. Therefore, urgent efforts are required to identify new and safe vaccine candidates that are not only provide high immune protection but also have broad spectrum applicability. Considering this, herein, I performed an extensive computational vaccine analysis to investigate 200 complete sequenced genomes of M. tuberculosis to identify core vaccine candidates that harbor safe, antigenic, non-toxic, and non-allergic epitopes. To overcome literature reported limitations of epitope-based vaccines, I carried out additional analysis by designing a multi-epitopes vaccine to achieve maximum protective immunity as well as to make experimental follow up studies easy by selecting a vaccine that can be easily analyzed because of its favorable physiochemical profile. Based on these analyses, I identified two potential vaccine proteins that fulfill all required vaccine properties. These two vaccine proteins are diacylglycerol acyltransferase and ESAT-6-like protein. Epitopes: DSGGYNANS from diacylglycerol acyltransferase and AGVQYSRAD, ADEEQQQAL, and VSRADEEQQ from ESAT-6-like protein were found to cover all necessary parameters and thus used in a multi-epitope vaccine construct. The designed vaccine is depicting a high binding affinity for different immune receptors and shows stable dynamics and rigorous van der Waals and electrostatic binding energies. The vaccine also simulates profound primary, secondary, tertiary immunoglobulin production as well as high interleukins and interferons count. In summary, the designed vaccine is ideal to be evaluated experimentally to decipher its real biological efficacy in controlling drug resistant infections of M. tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aqel Albutti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
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In Silico Core Proteomics and Molecular Docking Approaches for the Identification of Novel Inhibitors against Streptococcus pyogenes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111355. [PMID: 34769873 PMCID: PMC8582943 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a significant pathogen that causes skin and upper respiratory tract infections and non-suppurative complications, such as acute rheumatic fever and post-strep glomerulonephritis. Multidrug resistance has emerged in S. pyogenes strains, making them more dangerous and pathogenic. Hence, it is necessary to identify and develop therapeutic methods that would present novel approaches to S. pyogenes infections. In the current study, a subtractive proteomics approach was employed to core proteomes of four strains of S. pyogenes using several bioinformatic software tools and servers. The core proteome consists of 1324 proteins, and 302 essential proteins were predicted from them. These essential proteins were analyzed using BLASTp against human proteome, and the number of potential targets was reduced to 145. Based on subcellular localization prediction, 46 proteins with cytoplasmic localization were chosen for metabolic pathway analysis. Only two cytoplasmic proteins, i.e., chromosomal replication initiator protein DnaA and two-component response regulator (TCR), were discovered to have the potential to be novel drug target candidates. Three-dimensional (3D) structure prediction of target proteins was carried out via the Swiss Model server. Molecular docking approach was employed to screen the library of 1000 phytochemicals against the interacting residues of the target proteins through the MOE software. Further, the docking studies were validated by running molecular dynamics simulation and highly popular binding free energy approaches of MM-GBSA and MM-PBSA. The findings revealed a promising candidate as a novel target against S. pyogenes infections.
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Designing a Multi-Epitope Vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis by Employing Integrated Core Proteomics, Immuno-Informatics and In Silico Approaches. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10100997. [PMID: 34681096 PMCID: PMC8533590 DOI: 10.3390/biology10100997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis, a Gram-negative bacterium that infects the rectum, urethra, congenital sites, and columnar epithelium of the cervix. It is a major cause of preventable blindness, ectopic pregnancy, and bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide. There is currently no licensed multi-epitope vaccination available for this pathogen. This study used core proteomics, immuno-informatics, and subtractive proteomics approaches to identify the best antigenic candidates for the development of a multi-epitope-based vaccine (MEBV). These approaches resulted in six vaccine candidates: Type III secretion system translocon subunit CopD2, SctW family type III secretion system gatekeeper subunit CopN, SycD/LcrH family type III secretion system chaperone Scc2, CT847 family type III secretion system effector, hypothetical protein CTDEC_0668, and CHLPN 76kDa-like protein. A variety of immuno-informatics tools were used to predict B and T cell epitopes from vaccine candidate proteins. An in silico vaccine was developed using carefully selected epitopes (11 CTL, 2 HTL & 10 LBL) and then docked with the MHC molecules (MHC I & MHC II) and human TLR4. The vaccine was coupled with Cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) adjuvant to boost the immune response. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, molecular docking, and MMGBSA analysis were carried out to analyze the molecular interactions and binding affinity of MEBV with TLR4 and MHC molecules. To achieve the highest level of vaccine protein expression, the MEBV was cloned and reverse-translated in Escherichia coli. The highest level of expression was achieved, and a CAI score of 0.97 was reported. Further experimental validation of the MEBV is required to prove its efficacy. The vaccine developed will be useful in preventing infections caused by C. trachomatis.
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Allemailem KS. A Comprehensive Computer Aided Vaccine Design Approach to Propose a Multi-Epitopes Subunit Vaccine against Genus Klebsiella Using Pan-Genomics, Reverse Vaccinology, and Biophysical Techniques. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1087. [PMID: 34696195 PMCID: PMC8540426 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella is a genus of nosocomial bacterial pathogens and is placed in the most critical list of World Health Organization (WHO) for development of novel therapeutics. The pathogens of the genus are associated with high mortality and morbidity. Owing to their strong resistance profile against different classes of antibiotics and nonavailability of a licensed vaccine, urgent efforts are required to develop a novel vaccine candidate that can tackle all pathogenic species of the Klebsiella genus. The present study aims to design a broad-spectrum vaccine against all species of the Klebsiella genus with objectives to identify the core proteome of pathogen species, prioritize potential core vaccine proteins, analyze immunoinformatics of the vaccine proteins, construct a multi-epitopes vaccine, and provide its biophysical analysis. Herein, we investigated all reference species of the genus to reveal their core proteome. The core proteins were then subjected to multiple reverse vaccinology checks that are mandatory for the prioritization of potential vaccine candidates. Two proteins (TonB-dependent siderophore receptor and siderophore enterobactin receptor FepA) were found to fulfill all vaccine parameters. Both these proteins harbor several potent B-cell-derived T-cell epitopes that are antigenic, nonallergic, nontoxic, virulent, water soluble, IFN-γ producer, and efficient binder of DRB*0101 allele. The selected epitopes were modeled into a multi-epitope peptide comprising linkers and Cholera Toxin B adjuvant. For docking with innate immune and MHC receptors and afterward molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy analysis, the vaccine structure was modeled for tertiary structure and refined for structural errors. To assess the binding affinity and presentation of the designed vaccine construct, binding mode and interactions analysis were performed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation techniques. These biophysical approaches illustrated the vaccine as a good binder to the immune receptors and revealed robust interactions energies. The vaccine sequence was further translated to nucleotide sequence and cloned into an appropriate vector for expressing it at high rate in Escherichia coli K12 strain. In addition, the vaccine was illustrated to generate a good level of primary, secondary, and tertiary immune responses, proving good immunogenicity of the vaccine. Based on the reported results, the vaccine can be a good candidate to be evaluated for effectiveness in wet laboratory validation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled S Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
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Ismail S, Shahid F, Khan A, Bhatti S, Ahmad S, Naz A, Almatroudi A, Tahir Ul Qamar M. Pan-vaccinomics approach towards a universal vaccine candidate against WHO priority pathogens to address growing global antibiotic resistance. Comput Biol Med 2021; 136:104705. [PMID: 34340127 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.104705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens is a major global distress. Due to the slow progress of antibiotics development and the fast pace of resistance acquisition, there is an urgent need for effective vaccines against such bacterial pathogens. In-silico approaches including pan-genomics, subtractive proteomics, reverse vaccinology, immunoinformatics, molecular docking, and dynamics simulation studies were applied in the current study to identify a universal potential vaccine candidate against the 18 multi-drug resistance (MDRs) bacterial pathogenic species from a WHO priority list. Ten non-redundant, non-homologous, virulent, and antigenic vaccine candidates were filtered against all targeted species. Nine B-cell-derived T-cell antigen epitopes which show a great affinity to the dominant HLA allele (DRB1*0101) in the human population were screened from selected vaccine candidates using immunoinformatics approaches. Screened epitopes were then used to design a multi-epitope peptide vaccine construct (MEPVC) along with β-defensin adjuvant to improve the immunogenic properties of the proposed vaccine construct. Molecular docking and MD simulation were carried out to study the binding affinity and molecular interaction of MEPVC with human immune receptors (TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR6). The final MEPVC construct was reverse translated and in-silico cloned in the pET28a(+) vector to ensure its effectiveness. This in silico construct is expected to be helpful for vaccinologists to assess its immune protection effectiveness in vivo and in vitro to counter rising antibiotic resistance worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Ismail
- NUMS Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Farah Shahid
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abbas Khan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biological Statistics, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Sadia Bhatti
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sajjad Ahmad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
| | - Anam Naz
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ahmad Almatroudi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
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