Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Human infection with influenza A virus is associated with a high mortality and morbidity and causes worldwide pandemics. There is essential to improve a universal vaccine against influenza pandemic. We identified a total of 12 conserved epitopes in viral neuraminidase proteins containing human T-cell epitopes for N1 & N2 subtypes. In this study, we use the epitope-based vaccine designed by immunoinformatics tools to predict the binding of B-cell and T-cell epitopes (class I and class II human leukocyte antigens [HLA]). BCPREDS was used to predict the B-cell epitopes. Propred, Propred I, netMHCpan and netMHCIIpan were used to predict the T-cell epitopes. The 3D molecular model was constructed by Swiss Model server and N-Glycosylation sites excluded from estimated regions. Important parameters like antigenicity and hydropathicity analyzed by Protean program. This sequence was cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector Pet-41b(+). BALB/c mice were immunized with different dosages of recombinant protein and the immune responses were determined in the form of protective response against influenza virus, antibodies titers, spleen cells lymphocyte proliferation and the levels of interferon-�³ and interleukin-4 cytokines. We observed an increase in the number of influenza virus-specific IFN�³-secreting splenocytes, composed of populations marked by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IFN�³ or TNF�±. Upon challenge with influenza virus, the vaccinated mice exhibited decreased viral load in the lungs and a delay in mortality. T-cells recognizing conserved epitopes were significant contributor to decreasing viral load and controlling disease severity during heterosubtypic infection in animal models.

Biography

Email: mahdie.javanmard@yahoo.com