In-silico assessment of candidate B-cell epitopes and chimeric proteins from glycoproteins (B, D, C, E, I) for management of herpes simplex virus- 2 infections

Abstract

The HSV-2, a significant global health concern, demands innovative control methods. This project employed advanced in-silico techniques to analyze and design chimeric proteins utilizing selected glycoproteins (gD, gB, gC, gE, and gI) linked to HSV-2. Computational tools predict peptide motifs, assess antigenicity and evaluate immunogenic potential, strategically integrating multiple epitopes from various virulence factors. Ten chimeric proteins are designed, combining these epitopes with flexible and rigid linkers of varying lengths to optimize targeting diverse strains. Physicochemical properties of the chimeras are analyzed for stability, solubility, antigenicity, and allergenicity, with all 10 proving unstable yet soluble, antigenic and non-allergenic upon assessment. The study aimed at informing the development of a robust multi-epitope vaccine against HSV2, particularly beneficial for immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients. Chimera-2 showed promise in inducing a targeted immune response against genital herpes infections due to its high antigenicity and relatively low instability score. These findings mark a significant advancement towards an effective HSV vaccine, prompting further research, including investigating the instability of the designed chimeric proteins. Combining computational approaches with experimental validation is crucial for developing a successful vaccine against HSV-1 and 2, contributing to global health security.