In silico prediction of multi-epitope vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium leprae

Background Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Despite ongoing efforts to control the disease, leprosy remains a global health concern, with Indonesia ranking third in the world for the highest number of cases. Objective This stu...

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Main Authors: Almas Shabrina, Asep Iin Nur Indra, Sonny Feisal Rinaldi, Fusvita Merdekawati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University 2025-01-01
Series:Current Biomedicine
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Online Access:https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/currbiomed/article/view/54503
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author Almas Shabrina
Asep Iin Nur Indra
Sonny Feisal Rinaldi
Fusvita Merdekawati
author_facet Almas Shabrina
Asep Iin Nur Indra
Sonny Feisal Rinaldi
Fusvita Merdekawati
author_sort Almas Shabrina
collection DOAJ
description Background Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Despite ongoing efforts to control the disease, leprosy remains a global health concern, with Indonesia ranking third in the world for the highest number of cases. Objective This study aims to identify epitopes that can induce T and B cell immune responses through an in silico approach, to design a multi-epitope vaccine candidate against Mycobacterium leprae. Methods The study used an in silico vaccine design approach utilizing ESAT6, Ag85B, ML2028, ML2380, and ML2055 proteins from Mycobacterium leprae. The process involved sequence alignment, T cell (CTL and HTL) and B cell epitopes identification, and antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity assessment. Selected epitopes were constructed into a multi-epitope vaccine candidate using linkers. The tertiary structure of the vaccine was modeled with AlphaFold and evaluated via Prosa-web. The stability and interaction between the vaccine candidate and TLR4 were analyzed using molecular docking. Results The vaccine candidate demonstrated stable interactions with TLR4, with a binding free energy of -13.9 kcal/mol. The vaccine candidate was also predicted to be stable, antigenic, non-allergenic, non-toxic, and hydrophilic. Conclusion This in silico design of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate shows potential for development as a vaccine against leprosy.
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spelling doaj-art-482e9501d76249ae92f14e4966998fb12025-08-20T02:40:08ZengSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB UniversityCurrent Biomedicine2962-84902025-01-013110.29244/currbiomed.3.1.22In silico prediction of multi-epitope vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium leprae Almas Shabrina0 Asep Iin Nur Indra1 Sonny Feisal Rinaldi2 Fusvita Merdekawati3Study Program of Medical Laboratory Technology, Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Bandung, IndonesiaDivision of Molecular Biology, Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Bandung, Indonesia Division of Molecular Biology, Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Bandung, Indonesia Division of Molecular Biology, Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Bandung, Indonesia Background Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Despite ongoing efforts to control the disease, leprosy remains a global health concern, with Indonesia ranking third in the world for the highest number of cases. Objective This study aims to identify epitopes that can induce T and B cell immune responses through an in silico approach, to design a multi-epitope vaccine candidate against Mycobacterium leprae. Methods The study used an in silico vaccine design approach utilizing ESAT6, Ag85B, ML2028, ML2380, and ML2055 proteins from Mycobacterium leprae. The process involved sequence alignment, T cell (CTL and HTL) and B cell epitopes identification, and antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity assessment. Selected epitopes were constructed into a multi-epitope vaccine candidate using linkers. The tertiary structure of the vaccine was modeled with AlphaFold and evaluated via Prosa-web. The stability and interaction between the vaccine candidate and TLR4 were analyzed using molecular docking. Results The vaccine candidate demonstrated stable interactions with TLR4, with a binding free energy of -13.9 kcal/mol. The vaccine candidate was also predicted to be stable, antigenic, non-allergenic, non-toxic, and hydrophilic. Conclusion This in silico design of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate shows potential for development as a vaccine against leprosy. https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/currbiomed/article/view/54503in silicoleprosymulti-epitopeMycobacterium lepraevaccine candidate
spellingShingle Almas Shabrina
Asep Iin Nur Indra
Sonny Feisal Rinaldi
Fusvita Merdekawati
In silico prediction of multi-epitope vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium leprae
Current Biomedicine
in silico
leprosy
multi-epitope
Mycobacterium leprae
vaccine candidate
title In silico prediction of multi-epitope vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium leprae
title_full In silico prediction of multi-epitope vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium leprae
title_fullStr In silico prediction of multi-epitope vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium leprae
title_full_unstemmed In silico prediction of multi-epitope vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium leprae
title_short In silico prediction of multi-epitope vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium leprae
title_sort in silico prediction of multi epitope vaccine candidates against mycobacterium leprae
topic in silico
leprosy
multi-epitope
Mycobacterium leprae
vaccine candidate
url https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/currbiomed/article/view/54503
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AT sonnyfeisalrinaldi insilicopredictionofmultiepitopevaccinecandidatesagainstmycobacteriumleprae
AT fusvitamerdekawati insilicopredictionofmultiepitopevaccinecandidatesagainstmycobacteriumleprae