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Multi-subunit vaccine design against Neoehrlichia mikurensis by applying structure-based in silico approach
1Department of Chemistry, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Türkiye.
Abstract:
Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, an emerging tick-borne pathogen linked to systemic inflammatory syndromes, poses significant risk to immunocompromised individuals due to its intracellular nature, diagnostic limitations, and lack of targeted vaccines. In this study, immunoinformatics-based methods were applied to design a multi-epitope subunit vaccine targeting surface and conserved immunogenic proteins of N. mikurensis. Virtual screening of 237 proteins identified 377 T-cell and 177 B-cell high-affinity epitopes, prioritized based on antigenicity, non-allergenicity, non-toxicity, and global HLA coverage. T4SS and Pdr-DsbD proteins demonstrated the highest immunological relevance, with T4SS epitopes achieving 100 % global population coverage. Structural modeling revealed stable protein folds, accessible epitopes, and functional ligand-binding pockets, supporting vaccine design reliability. Inclusion of globally effective, high-affinity epitopes is a useful strategy for the creation of subunit vaccines against N. mikurensis. These findings revealed the value of reverse vaccinology and structural bioinformatics for accelerating vaccine development for intracellular bacteria. In conclusion, this in silico approach to vaccine design provides a promising method for guiding subsequent experimental validation and preventive action against neoehrlichiosis.
Insights
This study designed a multi-epitope subunit vaccine for Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis using immunoinformatics. The vaccine targets key proteins, offering a promising strategy against this emerging tick-borne pathogen.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an emerging tick-borne pathogen causing systemic inflammatory syndromes.
- It poses a significant risk to immunocompromised individuals due to its intracellular nature and diagnostic challenges.
- There is a lack of targeted vaccines for N. mikurensis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a multi-epitope subunit vaccine for N. mikurensis using immunoinformatics.
- To identify and prioritize high-affinity T-cell and B-cell epitopes from conserved immunogenic proteins.
- To evaluate the vaccine design's potential for global population coverage and structural stability.
Main Methods:
- Applied immunoinformatics and virtual screening to analyze 237 N. mikurensis proteins.
- Identified 377 T-cell and 177 B-cell epitopes based on antigenicity, non-allergenicity, non-toxicity, and HLA coverage.
- Utilized structural modeling to assess protein fold stability and epitope accessibility.
Main Results:
- Identified T4SS and Pdr-DsbD proteins as highly immunologically relevant.
- T4SS epitopes achieved 100% global population coverage.
- Structural modeling confirmed stable protein folds and accessible, functional epitopes.
Conclusions:
- In silico vaccine design using reverse vaccinology and structural bioinformatics accelerates development for intracellular bacteria.
- A multi-epitope subunit vaccine strategy incorporating globally effective epitopes is promising for N. mikurensis.
- This approach provides a foundation for experimental validation and preventive measures against neoehrlichiosis.
