Evaluation of immunological characteristics in order to designa multi-epitope vaccine candidate against shigella dysenteri

Background and Aim : Shigellosis is an important dysenteric disease specially in under ۵ yearold children, elderly and immuno- compromised patients. Currently, there is no effective vaccinefor shigellosis, because of this developing vaccine is necessary. In this study, the immuneinformatics approach was applied to design and explore a potential multi-epitope vaccine againstShigella.Methods : First of all, optimal epitopes (antigenic, immunogenic, non-toxic, and non-allergenic)were extracted from structural proteins of the Shigella using screening web tools. Candidateepitopes were fused to each other suitably using KK, and GPGPG linkers. toll-like receptors (TLR)۴ agonist (۵۰S ribosomal protein L۷/L۱۲) as adjuvant were then added to the amino terminal ofthe final epitope vaccine sequence to increase its immunogenicity. The three dimensional structureof the potential vaccine was then modeled using I-TASSER server.Results : Molecular dynamics simulations studies verified the high stability of final free vaccinesand in complex with TLR۴. This construct was also antigenic, non-allergenic, nontoxic andimmunogenic.Conclusion : Although the designed vaccine traits was promising as a potential candidate againstthe shigellosis, experimental studies and clinical trials are required to verify the protective traitsand safety of the designed vaccine.

کلیدواژه ها:

Shigellosis ، diarrhea ، multi_ epitope vaccine ، bioinformatics