In silico identification of candidate B-cell epitopes and Chimeric proteins derived from OmpA, OmpK35, OmpK36, and Pal proteins for control of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium that causes nosocomial infection in healthcare settings. Despite the high morbidity and mortality rate associated with these bacterial infections, no effective vaccine is available to counter the pathogen. The application of bioinformatics tools has influenced the development of vaccines by focusing on isolated epitopes capable of eliciting highly targeted immune responses. In this study, bioinformatics tools were used to identify immune-dominant epitopes from four key Klebsiella pneumoniae proteins: Outer membrane protein A (OmpA), Outer membrane protein K35 (OmpK35), Outer membrane protein K36 (OmpK36) and Peptidoglycan associated protein (Pal). Twenty-one chimeric proteins were designed by combining these epitopes with flexible and rigid linkers of varying lengths. The chimeras were then thoroughly evaluated for physicochemical properties, antigenicity, and allergenicity. Among the designed chimeras, >Chimera6 was the most promising candidate, exhibiting superior stability, high antigenicity, excellent solubility, and non-allergenic characteristics. These findings suggest that >Chimera6 has the potential to induce a robust and targeted immune response against Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. The study findings represent a significant steptowards the rational design of an effective Klebsiella pneumoniae vaccine andopens avenues for further research and validation. By combining computational approaches with experimental validation, the development of a successful vaccine that can combat the menace of Klebsiella pneumoniae and contribute to global health security will be possible.