مقالات پذیرفته شده در نهمین کنگره بین المللی زیست پزشکی
Computational and Experimental Design of a Multi-Epitope Vaccine Based on PcrV and OmpE of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Using Immunoinformatics
Computational and Experimental Design of a Multi-Epitope Vaccine Based on PcrV and OmpE of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Using Immunoinformatics
Hamidreza Kalantari,1,*
1. Department of Microbiology, Shahr‐e‐Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen causing infections such as UTIs, respiratory infections, and sepsis, especially in immunocompromised or hospitalized patient. The rise of multidrug-resistant strains has reduced antibiotic effectiveness, highlighting the need for alternative strategies like vaccination. Key antigens, PcrV and OmpE, are critical for pathogenesis and resistance, making them promising vaccine targets.
Using immunoinformatics, multi-epitope vaccines can be rationally designed to elicit focused immune responses while minimizing allergenicity and toxicity. This study aimed to design, characterize, and validate a novel multi-epitope vaccine construct based on conserved epitopes of PcrV and OmpE using a combination of computational and experimental approaches.
Methods: The present study followed an integrated strategy combining immunoinformatics tools and experimental validation for the design of a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The workflow began with the identification and selection of antigenic epitopes from two key proteins, PcrV and OmpE, followed by in silico evaluation of their immunological properties, structural modeling, molecular docking, and immune simulations. Finally, the designed construct was cloned, expressed, purified, and evaluated in vivo using a murine model.
Results: The multi-epitope vaccine combining selected epitopes from PcrV and OmpE was stable, hydrophilic, and successfully expressed in E. coli. In BALB/c mice, it elicited strong systemic IgG and IgA responses and enhanced mucosal IgG in urine, with alum further boosting systemic immunity. The vaccine’s design broadened antigenic coverage and overcame solubility challenges of single-antigen approaches, highlighting its potential as a promising candidate against P. aeruginosa. Further studies are needed to evaluate T-cell responses and protective efficacy.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining immunoinformatics with experimental validation to design a novel multi-epitope vaccine against P. aeruginosa. By integrating conserved epitopes from PcrV and OmpE, the construct induced robust systemic and mucosal antibody responses in vivo, underscoring its potential as a next-generation vaccine candidate. While additional investigations of T-cell immunity and protective efficacy are warranted, these findings provide a strong foundation for advancing epitope-based strategies against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa.