title: In silico analysis of an envelope domain III-based multivalent fusion protein as a potential dengue vaccine candidate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dengue virus infection is now a global problem. Currently, there is no licensed vaccine or proven antiviral treatment against this virus. All four serotypes (1-4) of dengue virus can infect human. An effective dengue vaccine should be tetravalent to induce protective immune responses against all four serotypes. Most of dengue vaccine candidates are monovalent, or in the form of physically mixed multivalent formulations. Recently envelope protein domain III of virus is considered as a vaccine candidate, which plays critical roles in the most important viral activities. Development of a tetravalent protein subunit vaccine is very important for equal induction of immune system and prevention of unbalanced immunity. Here, we have presented and used a rational approach to design a tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a multi domain antigen by fusing four consensus domain III sequences together with appropriate hydrophobic linkers and used several types of bioinformatics software and neural networks to predict structural and immunological properties of the designed tetravalent antigen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We designed a tetravalent protein (EDIIIF) based on domain III of dengue virus envelope protein. According to the results of the bioinformatics analysis, the constructed models for EDIIIF protein were structurally stable and potentially immunogenic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The designed tetravalent protein can be considered as a potential dengue vaccine candidate. The presented approach can be used for rational design and in silico evaluation of chimeric dengue vaccine candidates.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAUPS), Tehran, Iran.
authors: Hossein
authors: 0000-0002-1744-8675
authors: H
authors: Fahimi
authors: Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Majid
authors: 0000-0002-2497-3152
authors: M
authors: Sadeghizadeh
authors: Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mahshid
authors: 0000-0002-9813-9953
authors: M
authors: Mohammadipour
keywords: Dengue virus; In silico; Vaccine