Immunoinformatics analysis for design of multi-epitope subunit vaccine by using heat shock proteins against...

The development of T cell and B cell that able provide long-term immune response against the schistosomiasisis to the people belongs to the epidemic area. Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are up-regulated in schistosomes as their environment changes owing to the developmental cycle, assisting the parasite in living with the adverse circumstances related with its life cycle. Schistosomiasis is still a severe health problem in the people of many countries in worldwide. In this work, to develop a chimeric antigen, we used an advanced and powerful immunoinformatics technique that targeted Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) Heat shock protein (HSPs). Antigenicity, immunogenicity, allergenicity, and physicochemical characteristics were all assessed in silico for the developed subunit vaccine. The 3D structure of the vaccine was constructed and the stability of the vaccine construct was increased by using disulphide engineering. The protein-protein docking and simulation were performed between the vaccine construct and Toll-like receptor-4. The antigenicity probability value obtained for the vaccine construct was 0.93, which indicates that vaccine is non-allergenic and safe for human consumption. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.