Exploring E, NS3, and NS5 proteins to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against West Nile Virus: An in-silico approach

West Nile Virus is a spherical, enveloped capsid with a single-stranded RNA molecule and a known pathogen responsible for encephalitis. The deficiency of adequate treatment for WNV resulted in an increased mortality rate in its endemic zones, consequently causing its emergence as a primary health co...

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Main Authors: Md Wasim Alom, Mobasshir Noor Shehab, Khaled Mahmud Sujon, Farzana Akter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-01-01
Series:Informatics in Medicine Unlocked
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352914821001337
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author Md Wasim Alom
Mobasshir Noor Shehab
Khaled Mahmud Sujon
Farzana Akter
author_facet Md Wasim Alom
Mobasshir Noor Shehab
Khaled Mahmud Sujon
Farzana Akter
author_sort Md Wasim Alom
collection DOAJ
description West Nile Virus is a spherical, enveloped capsid with a single-stranded RNA molecule and a known pathogen responsible for encephalitis. The deficiency of adequate treatment for WNV resulted in an increased mortality rate in its endemic zones, consequently causing its emergence as a primary health concern on both national and international scales as brain inflammation/infections caused by WNV are proved to be lethal. Thus, potential vaccination against WNV is the most viable candidate for remediation. A multi-epitope prophylactic/therapeutic vaccine targeting the pathogen's major structural and functional infective proteins (E, NS3, and NS5 proteins in this study) would be invaluable to achieve the current elimination goal. The present study was conducted with the directive to design a chimeric epitope-based vaccine exploiting immunoinformatics methods. After a thorough investigation, a plausible candidate was selected with the combination of twelve T-cell epitopes and nine B-cell epitopes along with appropriate adjuvant and linkers. Physicochemical features were analyzed, and the tertiary structure of the vaccine candidate was predicted, refined, and validated. Further molecular docking study revealed significant results of solid binding interactions of the vaccine with its specific receptor. The molecular dynamics results showed the complex rigidity, a low deformation index, and stable binding between the vaccine and the receptor with small atomic fluctuations, thus considering the vaccine as a potential candidate. Furthermore, an immune simulation was also performed to observe the immunological responses upon administration into humans, which evaluate the efficiency of the vaccine construct to derive robust immune responses like increased level of T-cells, cytokines, and antibodies to combat against the virus. Finally, codon adaptation and in-silico cloning were accomplished to design an effective mass production strategy of the vaccine. This study implies that the predicted vaccine can be a potential candidate that must undergo wet-lab-based observations.
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spelling doaj.art-aaf8e1c1f9944c34851b4cb82b333c3c2022-12-21T21:49:28ZengElsevierInformatics in Medicine Unlocked2352-91482021-01-0125100644Exploring E, NS3, and NS5 proteins to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against West Nile Virus: An in-silico approachMd Wasim Alom0Mobasshir Noor Shehab1Khaled Mahmud Sujon2Farzana Akter3Corresponding author.; Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, BangladeshDepartment of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, BangladeshDepartment of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, BangladeshDepartment of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, BangladeshWest Nile Virus is a spherical, enveloped capsid with a single-stranded RNA molecule and a known pathogen responsible for encephalitis. The deficiency of adequate treatment for WNV resulted in an increased mortality rate in its endemic zones, consequently causing its emergence as a primary health concern on both national and international scales as brain inflammation/infections caused by WNV are proved to be lethal. Thus, potential vaccination against WNV is the most viable candidate for remediation. A multi-epitope prophylactic/therapeutic vaccine targeting the pathogen's major structural and functional infective proteins (E, NS3, and NS5 proteins in this study) would be invaluable to achieve the current elimination goal. The present study was conducted with the directive to design a chimeric epitope-based vaccine exploiting immunoinformatics methods. After a thorough investigation, a plausible candidate was selected with the combination of twelve T-cell epitopes and nine B-cell epitopes along with appropriate adjuvant and linkers. Physicochemical features were analyzed, and the tertiary structure of the vaccine candidate was predicted, refined, and validated. Further molecular docking study revealed significant results of solid binding interactions of the vaccine with its specific receptor. The molecular dynamics results showed the complex rigidity, a low deformation index, and stable binding between the vaccine and the receptor with small atomic fluctuations, thus considering the vaccine as a potential candidate. Furthermore, an immune simulation was also performed to observe the immunological responses upon administration into humans, which evaluate the efficiency of the vaccine construct to derive robust immune responses like increased level of T-cells, cytokines, and antibodies to combat against the virus. Finally, codon adaptation and in-silico cloning were accomplished to design an effective mass production strategy of the vaccine. This study implies that the predicted vaccine can be a potential candidate that must undergo wet-lab-based observations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352914821001337West Nile VirusMulti-epitope vaccineImmunoinformaticsB-cell epitopesT-cell epitopesIn-silico
spellingShingle Md Wasim Alom
Mobasshir Noor Shehab
Khaled Mahmud Sujon
Farzana Akter
Exploring E, NS3, and NS5 proteins to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against West Nile Virus: An in-silico approach
Informatics in Medicine Unlocked
West Nile Virus
Multi-epitope vaccine
Immunoinformatics
B-cell epitopes
T-cell epitopes
In-silico
title Exploring E, NS3, and NS5 proteins to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against West Nile Virus: An in-silico approach
title_full Exploring E, NS3, and NS5 proteins to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against West Nile Virus: An in-silico approach
title_fullStr Exploring E, NS3, and NS5 proteins to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against West Nile Virus: An in-silico approach
title_full_unstemmed Exploring E, NS3, and NS5 proteins to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against West Nile Virus: An in-silico approach
title_short Exploring E, NS3, and NS5 proteins to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against West Nile Virus: An in-silico approach
title_sort exploring e ns3 and ns5 proteins to design a novel multi epitope vaccine candidate against west nile virus an in silico approach
topic West Nile Virus
Multi-epitope vaccine
Immunoinformatics
B-cell epitopes
T-cell epitopes
In-silico
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352914821001337
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