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In silico Design and Immunoinformatic Evaluation of a Chimeric mRNA Vaccine Candidate against Ebola Virus
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Amir Rezaei    , Hossein Samiei-Abianeh , Seyed Akbar Arianzad , Gholamreza Olad , Jafar Salimian1 |
| 1- , jafar.salimian@gmail.com |
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Abstract: (22 Views) |
Background and Aim: Several cases of Ebola outbreaks have been recorded worldwide, with most occurring in Central Africa.. Given the high mortality rate of 50-90% among infected individuals and the lack of a specific treatment, there is an urgent need for an effective vaccine to control this disease. In this study, we focus on designing an mRNA vaccine, conducting bioinformatics analyses, predicting structural features, and evaluating the immunological response of a chimeric protein.
Materials and Methods: The Ebola virus genome encodes various proteins. Due to the functional and protective roles of the glycoprotein(GP) and nucleoprotein (NP) proteins, they were utilized to design a chimeric immunogen, whereas other studies have primarily focused on GP alone. In this study, the conservation of protein and nucleotide sequences was evaluated across different species. Additionally, the allergenicity, antigenicity, toxicity, and physicochemical properties of a recombinant fusion protein resulting from the fusion of these two proteins were analyzed through bioinformatics studies, and the secondary structure of the recombinant fusion protein was predicted. Linear and conformational epitopes for B cells, MHC-I, MHC-II, and TCD4 cell were identified using immunoinformatics approaches, and the immune response in a mammalian host was simulated. An mRNA vaccine construct corresponding to the Recombinant Fusion protein was designed, its secondary structure was analyzed, and its sequence was optimized.
Results: The designed recombinant fusion protein is an immunogenic molecule with suitable physicochemical properties and secondary structure, exhibiting no allergenicity or toxicity. With its multiple epitopes, it can effectively stimulate both humoral and cellular immune responses in the host for at least one month. The designed mRNA vaccine is stable, with a high transcription rate, and due to the inclusion of the NP protein alongside GP, it can be utilized against various viral strains.
Conclusion: Considering the capabilities and advantages of fourth-generation vaccines, the designed mRNA chimera vaccine could be a promising candidate for laboratory studies targeting Ebola virus. |
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| Keywords: Ebola virus, Immunoinformatics, Recombinant Fusion protein, mRNA Vaccine |
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Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
Biotechnology
Received: 2025/06/3 | Accepted: 2025/12/16
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