Immunoinformatics and structural vaccinology driven prediction of multi-epitope vaccine against Mayaro virus and...

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Vaccine Development

Background:

• Mayaro virus (MAYV), an Alphavirus, causes arthralgia outbreaks in Brazil, transmitted by the Haemagogus janthinomys mosquito.
• Current protection strategies against MAYV are limited, highlighting the need for effective vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and in silico validate a multi-subunit vaccine candidate against Mayaro virus (MAYV).
• To identify potential B and T cell epitopes from MAYV structural polyproteins for vaccine development.

Main Methods:

• Immunoinformatics tools were employed to predict B and T cell epitopes from MAYV structural polyproteins (capsid, E2, 6K, E3, E1).
• A multi-subunit vaccine construct was designed, docked with TLR-3, and its stability assessed using molecular dynamics simulations (RMSD, RMSF).
• In silico cloning in E. coli was performed to evaluate vaccine construct expression potential (CAI value).

Main Results:

• The immunoinformatics approach identified potential epitopes for vaccine design.
• Molecular dynamics simulations indicated stable vaccine-TLR-3 complexes.
• The vaccine construct demonstrated high expression potential (CAI=0.96) in silico.

Conclusions:

• The designed multi-subunit vaccine construct shows promise as a stable and potentially immunogenic candidate against Mayaro virus.
• Further experimental validation is warranted to confirm the immunogenicity and safety of this vaccine construct for treating MAYV infections.