title: An overview of bioinformatics tools for epitope prediction: implications on vaccine development.
abstract: Exploitation of recombinant DNA and sequencing technologies has led to a new concept in vaccination in which isolated epitopes, capable of stimulating a specific immune response, have been identified and used to achieve advanced vaccine formulations; replacing those constituted by whole pathogen-formulations. In this context, bioinformatics approaches play a critical role on analyzing multiple genomes to select the protective epitopes in silico. It is conceived that cocktails of defined epitopes or chimeric protein arrangements, including the target epitopes, may provide a rationale design capable to elicit convenient humoral or cellular immune responses. This review presents a comprehensive compilation of the most advantageous online immunological software and searchable, in order to facilitate the design and development of vaccines. An outlook on how these tools are supporting vaccine development is presented. HIV and influenza have been taken as examples of promising developments on vaccination against hypervariable viruses. Perspectives in this field are also envisioned.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ingeniería de Biorreactores, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, SLP 78210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Soria-Guerra
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, SLP 78210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nieto-Gomez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, SLP 78210, Mexico.
authors.forename: Dania O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Govea-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava 6, SLP 78210, Mexico. Electronic address: rosales.s@fcq.uaslp.mx.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosales-Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D003199:Computer Systems; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D018604:Epitope Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D016678:Genome; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008490:Medical Informatics; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D012984:Software; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014612:Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014612:Vaccines; D004247:DNA
keywords: Antigenic determinants; Databases; Hypervariable pathogens; Immunological software; Immunoprotection