Jiang F, Han Y, Liu Y, Xue Y, Cheng P, Xiao L, Gong W. A comprehensive approach to developing a multi-epitope vaccine against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis: from
in silico design to
in vitro immunization evaluation.
Front Immunol 2023;
14:1280299. [PMID:
38022558 PMCID:
PMC10652892 DOI:
10.3389/fimmu.2023.1280299]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction
The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, currently used against tuberculosis (TB), exhibits inconsistent efficacy, highlighting the need for more potent TB vaccines.
Materials and methods
In this study, we employed reverse vaccinology techniques to develop a promising multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) candidate, called PP13138R, for TB prevention. PP13138R comprises 34 epitopes, including B-cell, cytotoxic T lymphocyte, and helper T lymphocyte epitopes. Using bioinformatics and immunoinformatics tools, we assessed the physicochemical properties, structural features, and immunological characteristics of PP13138R.
Results
The vaccine candidate demonstrated excellent antigenicity, immunogenicity, and solubility without any signs of toxicity or sensitization. In silico analyses revealed that PP13138R interacts strongly with Toll-like receptor 2 and 4, stimulating innate and adaptive immune cells to produce abundant antigen-specific antibodies and cytokines. In vitro experiments further supported the efficacy of PP13138R by significantly increasing the population of IFN-γ+ T lymphocytes and the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines in active tuberculosis patients, latent tuberculosis infection individuals, and healthy controls, revealing the immunological characteristics and compare the immune responses elicited by the PP13138R vaccine across different stages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Conclusion
These findings highlight the potential of PP13138R as a promising MEV candidate, characterized by favorable antigenicity, immunogenicity, and solubility, without any toxicity or sensitization.
Collapse