Title:A Multi-Method and Structure-Based <i>In Silico</i> Vaccine Designing Against <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Employing Immuno-Informatics Approach
VOLUME: 18 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Anam Naz*, Tahreem Zaheer, Hamza Arshad Dar, Faryal Mehwish Awan, Ayesha Obaid, Shifa Tariq Ashraf, Rehan Zafar Paracha, Arif Malik and Amjad Ali*
Affiliation:Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Research Center for Modeling & Simulation (RCMS), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, 44000, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad
Keywords:H. pylori, multi-epitope vaccine, poly-epitope peptide vaccine, HLA allele binding, TLR2 receptor, TLR4 receptor.
Abstract:Background: Helicobacter pylori infection and its treatment still remain a challenge for
human health worldwide. A variety of antibiotics and combination therapies are currently used to
treat H. pylori induced ulcers and carcinoma; however, no effective treatment is available to eliminate
the pathogen from the body. Additionally, antibiotic resistance is also one of the main reasons
for prolonged and persistent infection.
Aim of the Study: Until new drugs are available for this infection, vaccinology seems the only alternative
opportunity to exploit against H. pylori induced diseases.
Methods: Multiple epitopes prioritized in our previous study have been tested for their possible
antigenic combinations, resulting in 169-mer and 183-mer peptide vaccines containing the amino
acid sequences of 3 and 4 epitopes respectively, along with adjuvant (Cholera Toxin Subunit B adjuvant
at 5’ end) and linkers (GPGPG and EAAAK).
Results: Poly-epitope proteins proposed as potential vaccine candidates against H. pylori include
SabA-HP0289-Omp16-VacA (SHOV), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-FecA (VOHF), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-
SabA (VOHS), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-BabA (VOHB), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-SabA-FecA
(VOHSF), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-SabA-BabA (VOHSB) and VacA-Omp16-HP0289-BabA-SabA
(VOHBS). Structures of these poly-epitope peptide vaccines have been modeled and checked for
their affinity with HLA alleles and receptors. These proposed poly-epitope vaccine candidates bind
efficiently with A2, A3, B7 and DR1 superfamilies of HLA alleles. They can also form stable and
significant interactions with Toll-like receptor 2 and Toll-like receptor 4.
Conclusion: Results suggest that these multi-epitopic vaccines can elicit a significant immune response
against H. pylori and can be tested further for efficient vaccine development.
