Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arboviral pathogen that belongs to the Flaviviridae subgroup and is a contemporary global concern. Recent epidemic outbreaks in Brazil have indicated that ZIKV could be responsible for post-infection neurological disorders in infants, resulting in ZIKV being considered a major threat to global health. Unfortunately, no vaccine is yet available to prevent the spread of this virus. In this study, we have applied an in silico approach to the identification of B-cell epitopes in the ZIKV genome. By utilizing currently available genomic data and applying multiple sequence alignments and the Immune Epitope Database (IDEB) tools, a LEFYSYKKSG epitope was identified in a highly conserved peptide region of the ZIKV polyprotein. The antigenicity, allergenicity, and affinity of the B-cell epitope were evaluated, and significant B-cell affinity against ZIKV was identified. This highly conserved epitope can be used to develop a peptide-based vaccine and can also be applied toward the development of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes against ZIKV.
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