Windah, Axl Laurens Lukas, Tallei, Trina Ekawati, AlShehail, Bashayer M., Suoth, Elly Juliana, Fatimawali, Alhashem, Yousef N., Halwani, Muhammad A., AlShakhal, Mouayd M., Aljeldah, Mohammed, Alissa, Mohammed, Alsuwat, Meshari A., Almanaa, Taghreed N., Alshehri, Ahmad A., and Rabaan, Ali A.
The West Nile virus (WNV) is the causative agent of West Nile disease (WND), which poses a potential risk of meningitis or encephalitis. The aim of the study was to design an epitope-based vaccine for WNV by utilizing computational analyses. The epitope-based vaccine design process encompassed WNV sequence collection, phylogenetic tree construction, and sequence alignment. Computational models identified B-cell and T-cell epitopes, followed by immunological property analysis. Epitopes were then modeled and docked with B-cell receptors, MHC I, and MHC II. Molecular dynamics simulations further explored dynamic interactions between epitopes and receptors. The findings indicated that the B-cell epitope QINHHWHKSGSSIG, along with three T-cell epitopes (FLVHREWFM for MHC I, NPFVSVATANAKVLI for MHC II, and NAYYVMTVGTKTFLV for MHC II), successfully passed the immunological evaluations. These four epitopes were further subjected to docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies. Although each demonstrated favorable affinities with their respective receptors, only NAYYVMTVGTKTFLV displayed a stable interaction with MHC II during MDS analysis, hence emerging as a potential candidate for a WNV epitope-based vaccine. This study demonstrates a comprehensive approach to epitope vaccine design, combining computational analyses, molecular modeling, and simulation techniques to identify potential vaccine candidates for WNV. [Display omitted] • The WNV is responsible for causing West Nile disease (WND), which carries the potential for meningitis or encephalitis. • Computational predictions pinpointed B-cell and T-cell epitopes as potential candidates for the WNV epitope vaccine, followed by an in silico evaluation of their immunological characteristics. • The B-cell epitope QINHHWHKSGSSIG, along with three T-cell epitopes (FLVHREWFM for MHC I, NPFVSVATANAKVLI for MHC II, and NAYYVMTVGTKTFLV for MHC II), satisfactorily met the criteria of computational immunological assessments. • NAYYVMTVGTKTFLV consistently demonstrated binding with major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) in the context of MDS analysis, thereby emerging as a potential candidate for a West Nile virus epitope-based vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]