Exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on Chikungunya virus epitopes: Analysis of virus samples from the Alagoas State outbreak, Brazil

Objective: To investigate mutations in the Chikungunya (CHIKV) envelope genome region and evaluate their potential impact on B lymphocyte epitopes via in silico analysis. Methods: E1, E2 and 6K protein genes were sequenced from viral RNA isolated from 13 CHIKV-positive serum samples from Alagoas Sta...

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Main Authors: Jamile Taniele-Silva, Júlia De Andrade Brandão, Maria Júlia Tenório Costa Cinésio De Oliveira, Stephannie Janaina Maia De Souza, Jean Fábio Gomes Ferro, Magliones Carneiro De Lima, Abelardo Silva-Júnior, Ênio José Bassi, Letícia Anderson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-06-01
Series:Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/apjtm.apjtm_746_24
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author Jamile Taniele-Silva
Júlia De Andrade Brandão
Maria Júlia Tenório Costa Cinésio De Oliveira
Stephannie Janaina Maia De Souza
Jean Fábio Gomes Ferro
Magliones Carneiro De Lima
Abelardo Silva-Júnior
Ênio José Bassi
Letícia Anderson
author_facet Jamile Taniele-Silva
Júlia De Andrade Brandão
Maria Júlia Tenório Costa Cinésio De Oliveira
Stephannie Janaina Maia De Souza
Jean Fábio Gomes Ferro
Magliones Carneiro De Lima
Abelardo Silva-Júnior
Ênio José Bassi
Letícia Anderson
author_sort Jamile Taniele-Silva
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To investigate mutations in the Chikungunya (CHIKV) envelope genome region and evaluate their potential impact on B lymphocyte epitopes via in silico analysis. Methods: E1, E2 and 6K protein genes were sequenced from viral RNA isolated from 13 CHIKV-positive serum samples from Alagoas State, Brazil, during the 2016 outbreak. Phylogenetic analysis, experimental epitope identification in the immune epitope database (IEDB) and in silico approaches were employed to predict the potential impact of the detected mutations. Results: The sequences were clustered via phylogenetic analysis. The CHIKV isolates belong to the ECSA genotype, with 13 detected amino acid mutations. Five mutations are located on the surface of the viral particle in regions critical for cellular receptor interaction. Nine mutations are known experimentally validated epitopes for B and T cells. In B-cell epitope predictions, mutations affect sequences within three conformational epitopes in E2 and one in E1, as well as linear epitopes. Notably, the E2-G60D mutation found in the Alagoas strain has been previously reported to influence the vector competence of Aedes aegypti, the primary vector in Brazil. Conclusions: Genomic surveillance and an in-depth understanding of viral mutations are crucial for adapting public health strategies and improving the outbreak response. These findings could have significant public health implications, such as the development of more effective vaccines, diagnostic tests, and antiviral therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-344a738ea71b46058c65a0ae7fa8d5252025-08-20T03:16:07ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAsian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine2352-41462025-06-0118626927910.4103/apjtm.apjtm_746_24Exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on Chikungunya virus epitopes: Analysis of virus samples from the Alagoas State outbreak, BrazilJamile Taniele-SilvaJúlia De Andrade BrandãoMaria Júlia Tenório Costa Cinésio De OliveiraStephannie Janaina Maia De SouzaJean Fábio Gomes FerroMagliones Carneiro De LimaAbelardo Silva-JúniorÊnio José BassiLetícia AndersonObjective: To investigate mutations in the Chikungunya (CHIKV) envelope genome region and evaluate their potential impact on B lymphocyte epitopes via in silico analysis. Methods: E1, E2 and 6K protein genes were sequenced from viral RNA isolated from 13 CHIKV-positive serum samples from Alagoas State, Brazil, during the 2016 outbreak. Phylogenetic analysis, experimental epitope identification in the immune epitope database (IEDB) and in silico approaches were employed to predict the potential impact of the detected mutations. Results: The sequences were clustered via phylogenetic analysis. The CHIKV isolates belong to the ECSA genotype, with 13 detected amino acid mutations. Five mutations are located on the surface of the viral particle in regions critical for cellular receptor interaction. Nine mutations are known experimentally validated epitopes for B and T cells. In B-cell epitope predictions, mutations affect sequences within three conformational epitopes in E2 and one in E1, as well as linear epitopes. Notably, the E2-G60D mutation found in the Alagoas strain has been previously reported to influence the vector competence of Aedes aegypti, the primary vector in Brazil. Conclusions: Genomic surveillance and an in-depth understanding of viral mutations are crucial for adapting public health strategies and improving the outbreak response. These findings could have significant public health implications, such as the development of more effective vaccines, diagnostic tests, and antiviral therapies.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/apjtm.apjtm_746_24genomic variationsin silico analysisepitope predictionglycoprotein mutations
spellingShingle Jamile Taniele-Silva
Júlia De Andrade Brandão
Maria Júlia Tenório Costa Cinésio De Oliveira
Stephannie Janaina Maia De Souza
Jean Fábio Gomes Ferro
Magliones Carneiro De Lima
Abelardo Silva-Júnior
Ênio José Bassi
Letícia Anderson
Exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on Chikungunya virus epitopes: Analysis of virus samples from the Alagoas State outbreak, Brazil
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
genomic variations
in silico analysis
epitope prediction
glycoprotein mutations
title Exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on Chikungunya virus epitopes: Analysis of virus samples from the Alagoas State outbreak, Brazil
title_full Exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on Chikungunya virus epitopes: Analysis of virus samples from the Alagoas State outbreak, Brazil
title_fullStr Exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on Chikungunya virus epitopes: Analysis of virus samples from the Alagoas State outbreak, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on Chikungunya virus epitopes: Analysis of virus samples from the Alagoas State outbreak, Brazil
title_short Exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on Chikungunya virus epitopes: Analysis of virus samples from the Alagoas State outbreak, Brazil
title_sort exploring the impact of envelope protein mutations on chikungunya virus epitopes analysis of virus samples from the alagoas state outbreak brazil
topic genomic variations
in silico analysis
epitope prediction
glycoprotein mutations
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/apjtm.apjtm_746_24
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