Computational analysis of proteome of Foot-and-mouth disease Virus for the prediction of immunogenic epitopes

Abstract

ObjectiveFoot and Mouth Disease virus (FMDV) commonly affects cloven hoofed animals. Infection with one serotype does not confer immunity to others and currently available vaccines do not provide effective T-cell immunity. The objective of this work is to predict the Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes which could be used as vaccine components against FMD virus. Material and methodsProteomes of three Indian FMDV vaccine strains, Type A IND40/00, Type A IND17/82 and Asia-1 IND63/72 were retrieved. BoLa-T2b allele restricted CTL epitopes were predicted using Immune Epitope Data Base Analysis Resource (IEDB-AR) and NetMHCpan 2.8 tool. The predicted overlapping epitopes were further analysed for antigenicity prediction, binding to other BoLA allele and consensus epitope analysis. ResultsA total of 207 epitopes were predicted by IEDB-AR tool. Among this, 72, 68, 67, epitopes were predicted in Asia 1 IND 63/72, Type A IND40/00 and Type A IND17/82 respectively. Totally 489 epitopes were predicted by NetMHCpan 2.0 tool. Of which, 164, 163 and 162 epitopes were predicted in Type A IND17/82, Asia 1 IND63/72 and Type A IND40/00 respectively. In total 29 consensus epitopes were predicted during this analysis, among this, 28 epitopes are present to occur in all the three Indian strains that were tested. ConclusionsThe 29 consensus epitopes predicted in this study could be used for developing a potent vaccine for both Asia I and Type A strains of FMD. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to confirm the CTL efficacy of this peptide against FMDV.