Exploring Proteome of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus to Construct Multiepitope Based Subunit Vaccine: Molecular Docking with Immunoinformatic Framework

Abstract

Purpose: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) virus that spreads via tick bites. For the treatment of CCHFV, there is still a lack of vaccine or any antiviral medicine. For this purpose, a study was performed to design a multiepitope based subunit vaccine (MESV) for effective prevention against CCHFV infection. Methodology: The study contains immunoinformatic and docking methodologies to obtain a MESV by choosing highly antigenic and overlapping epitopes comprising of 8 epitopes of both MHC class I and II from viral proteins. Epitopes were chosen which were conserved within the epitopes of IFN- gamma, T-cell and B-cell. Then these epitopes were joined to final peptide by GPGPG and AAY linkers. An adjuvant was added at N terminal of vaccine via EAAAK linker for the improvement of vaccine’s immunogenicity. Findings: Our final construct was comprised of 278 amino acids. To validate the vaccine’s immunogenicity and safety, its physiochemical properties, allergenicity as well as antigenicity were checked and it was predicted to be non-allergenic and antigenic. The construct was further analyzed by molecular docking within vaccine and TLR3 receptor to assure its molecular interaction and binding affinity. In the end, In-silico cloning was also carried out for ensuring its expression efficiency. Recommendations: Nonetheless, the designed construct is proposed to be tested in laboratory settings to confirm its immunogenicity and safety.