Attenuated Subcomponent Vaccine Design Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein RNA Binding Domain: In Silico Analysis

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has previously never been identified with humans, thereby creating devastation in public health. The need for an effective vaccine to curb this pandemic cannot be overemphasized. In view o...

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Main Authors: Onyeka S. Chukwudozie, Rebecca C. Chukwuanukwu, Onyekachi O. Iroanya, Daniel M. Eze, Vincent C. Duru, Temiloluwa O. Dele-Alimi, Busuyi D. Kehinde, Taiwo T. Bankole, Perpetua C. Obi, Elizabeth U. Okinedo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Immunology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2837670
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author Onyeka S. Chukwudozie
Rebecca C. Chukwuanukwu
Onyekachi O. Iroanya
Daniel M. Eze
Vincent C. Duru
Temiloluwa O. Dele-Alimi
Busuyi D. Kehinde
Taiwo T. Bankole
Perpetua C. Obi
Elizabeth U. Okinedo
author_facet Onyeka S. Chukwudozie
Rebecca C. Chukwuanukwu
Onyekachi O. Iroanya
Daniel M. Eze
Vincent C. Duru
Temiloluwa O. Dele-Alimi
Busuyi D. Kehinde
Taiwo T. Bankole
Perpetua C. Obi
Elizabeth U. Okinedo
author_sort Onyeka S. Chukwudozie
collection DOAJ
description The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has previously never been identified with humans, thereby creating devastation in public health. The need for an effective vaccine to curb this pandemic cannot be overemphasized. In view of this, we designed a subcomponent antigenic peptide vaccine targeting the N-terminal (NT) and C-terminal (CT) RNA binding domains of the nucleocapsid protein that aid in viral replication. Promising antigenic B cell and T cell epitopes were predicted using computational pipelines. The peptides “RIRGGDGKMKDL” and “AFGRRGPEQTQGNFG” were the B cell linear epitopes with good antigenic index and nonallergenic property. Two CD8+ and Three CD4+ T cell epitopes were also selected considering their safe immunogenic profiling such as allergenicity, antigen level conservancy, antigenicity, peptide toxicity, and putative restrictions to a number of MHC-I and MHC-II alleles. With these selected epitopes, a nonallergenic chimeric peptide vaccine incapable of inducing a type II hypersensitivity reaction was constructed. The molecular interaction between the Toll-like receptor-5 (TLR5) which was triggered by the vaccine was analyzed by molecular docking and scrutinized using dynamics simulation. Finally, in silico cloning was performed to ensure the expression and translation efficiency of the vaccine, utilizing the pET-28a vector. This research, therefore, provides a guide for experimental investigation and validation.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-16b1c6d02eb94b37bf88a59ad4177b3a2025-08-20T03:54:32ZengWileyJournal of Immunology Research2314-88612314-71562020-01-01202010.1155/2020/28376702837670Attenuated Subcomponent Vaccine Design Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein RNA Binding Domain: In Silico AnalysisOnyeka S. Chukwudozie0Rebecca C. Chukwuanukwu1Onyekachi O. Iroanya2Daniel M. Eze3Vincent C. Duru4Temiloluwa O. Dele-Alimi5Busuyi D. Kehinde6Taiwo T. Bankole7Perpetua C. Obi8Elizabeth U. Okinedo9Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos State, NigeriaImmunology Unit, Medical Laboratory Science Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, NigeriaDepartment of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos State, NigeriaPublic Health Biotechnology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, NigeriaPublic Health Biotechnology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, NigeriaPublic Health Biotechnology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, NigeriaDepartment of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, NigeriaDepartment of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos State, NigeriaDepartment of Science Laboratory and Technology (Microbiology Unit), Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, NigeriaDepartment of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos State, NigeriaThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has previously never been identified with humans, thereby creating devastation in public health. The need for an effective vaccine to curb this pandemic cannot be overemphasized. In view of this, we designed a subcomponent antigenic peptide vaccine targeting the N-terminal (NT) and C-terminal (CT) RNA binding domains of the nucleocapsid protein that aid in viral replication. Promising antigenic B cell and T cell epitopes were predicted using computational pipelines. The peptides “RIRGGDGKMKDL” and “AFGRRGPEQTQGNFG” were the B cell linear epitopes with good antigenic index and nonallergenic property. Two CD8+ and Three CD4+ T cell epitopes were also selected considering their safe immunogenic profiling such as allergenicity, antigen level conservancy, antigenicity, peptide toxicity, and putative restrictions to a number of MHC-I and MHC-II alleles. With these selected epitopes, a nonallergenic chimeric peptide vaccine incapable of inducing a type II hypersensitivity reaction was constructed. The molecular interaction between the Toll-like receptor-5 (TLR5) which was triggered by the vaccine was analyzed by molecular docking and scrutinized using dynamics simulation. Finally, in silico cloning was performed to ensure the expression and translation efficiency of the vaccine, utilizing the pET-28a vector. This research, therefore, provides a guide for experimental investigation and validation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2837670
spellingShingle Onyeka S. Chukwudozie
Rebecca C. Chukwuanukwu
Onyekachi O. Iroanya
Daniel M. Eze
Vincent C. Duru
Temiloluwa O. Dele-Alimi
Busuyi D. Kehinde
Taiwo T. Bankole
Perpetua C. Obi
Elizabeth U. Okinedo
Attenuated Subcomponent Vaccine Design Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein RNA Binding Domain: In Silico Analysis
Journal of Immunology Research
title Attenuated Subcomponent Vaccine Design Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein RNA Binding Domain: In Silico Analysis
title_full Attenuated Subcomponent Vaccine Design Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein RNA Binding Domain: In Silico Analysis
title_fullStr Attenuated Subcomponent Vaccine Design Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein RNA Binding Domain: In Silico Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Attenuated Subcomponent Vaccine Design Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein RNA Binding Domain: In Silico Analysis
title_short Attenuated Subcomponent Vaccine Design Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Phosphoprotein RNA Binding Domain: In Silico Analysis
title_sort attenuated subcomponent vaccine design targeting the sars cov 2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein rna binding domain in silico analysis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/2837670
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