A reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode Ascaris
Ascariasis is the most prevalent helminthic disease affecting both humans and pigs and is caused by the roundworms Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum. While preventive chemotherapy continues to be the most common control method, recent reports of anthelminthic resistance highlight the need for de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1014198/full |
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| author | Francisco M. D. Evangelista Arnoud H. M. van Vliet Scott P. Lawton Martha Betson |
| author_facet | Francisco M. D. Evangelista Arnoud H. M. van Vliet Scott P. Lawton Martha Betson |
| author_sort | Francisco M. D. Evangelista |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ascariasis is the most prevalent helminthic disease affecting both humans and pigs and is caused by the roundworms Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum. While preventive chemotherapy continues to be the most common control method, recent reports of anthelminthic resistance highlight the need for development of a vaccine against ascariasis. The aim of this study was to use a reverse vaccinology approach to identify potential vaccine candidates for Ascaris. Three Ascaris proteomes predicted from whole-genome sequences were analyzed. Candidate proteins were identified using open-access bioinformatic tools (e.g., Vacceed, VaxiJen, Bepipred 2.0) which test for different characteristics such as sub-cellular location, T-cell and B-cell molecular binding, antigenicity, allergenicity and phylogenetic relationship with other nematode proteins. From over 100,000 protein sequences analyzed, four transmembrane proteins were predicted to be non-allergen antigens and potential vaccine candidates. The four proteins are a Piezo protein, two voltage-dependent calcium channels and a protocadherin-like protein, are all expressed in either the muscle or ovaries of both Ascaris species, and all contained high affinity epitopes for T-cells and B-cells. The use of a reverse vaccinology approach allowed the prediction of four new potential vaccination targets against ascariasis in humans and pigs. These targets can now be further tested in in vitro and in vivo assays to prove efficacy in both pigs and humans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:42:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea39d850c8614190a4811d782d307a1c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:42:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea39d850c8614190a4811d782d307a1c2022-12-22T03:56:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-11-01910.3389/fvets.2022.10141981014198A reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode AscarisFrancisco M. D. Evangelista0Arnoud H. M. van Vliet1Scott P. Lawton2Martha Betson3School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United KingdomSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United KingdomCentre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Northern Faculty, Scotland's Rural University College (SRUC), An Lòchran, Inverness, United KingdomSchool of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United KingdomAscariasis is the most prevalent helminthic disease affecting both humans and pigs and is caused by the roundworms Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum. While preventive chemotherapy continues to be the most common control method, recent reports of anthelminthic resistance highlight the need for development of a vaccine against ascariasis. The aim of this study was to use a reverse vaccinology approach to identify potential vaccine candidates for Ascaris. Three Ascaris proteomes predicted from whole-genome sequences were analyzed. Candidate proteins were identified using open-access bioinformatic tools (e.g., Vacceed, VaxiJen, Bepipred 2.0) which test for different characteristics such as sub-cellular location, T-cell and B-cell molecular binding, antigenicity, allergenicity and phylogenetic relationship with other nematode proteins. From over 100,000 protein sequences analyzed, four transmembrane proteins were predicted to be non-allergen antigens and potential vaccine candidates. The four proteins are a Piezo protein, two voltage-dependent calcium channels and a protocadherin-like protein, are all expressed in either the muscle or ovaries of both Ascaris species, and all contained high affinity epitopes for T-cells and B-cells. The use of a reverse vaccinology approach allowed the prediction of four new potential vaccination targets against ascariasis in humans and pigs. These targets can now be further tested in in vitro and in vivo assays to prove efficacy in both pigs and humans.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1014198/fullAscaris lumbricoidesAscaris suumNeglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)nematodeszoonosesvaccine |
| spellingShingle | Francisco M. D. Evangelista Arnoud H. M. van Vliet Scott P. Lawton Martha Betson A reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode Ascaris Frontiers in Veterinary Science Ascaris lumbricoides Ascaris suum Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) nematodes zoonoses vaccine |
| title | A reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode Ascaris |
| title_full | A reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode Ascaris |
| title_fullStr | A reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode Ascaris |
| title_full_unstemmed | A reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode Ascaris |
| title_short | A reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode Ascaris |
| title_sort | reverse vaccinology approach identifies putative vaccination targets in the zoonotic nematode ascaris |
| topic | Ascaris lumbricoides Ascaris suum Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) nematodes zoonoses vaccine |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1014198/full |
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