title: A potent multivalent vaccine for modulation of immune system in atherosclerosis: an in silico approach.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerosis is classically defined as an immune-mediated disease characterized by accumulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol over intima in medium sized and large arteries. Recent studies have demonstrated that both innate and adaptive immune responses are involved in atherosclerosis. In addition, experimental and human models have recognized many autoantigens in pathophysiology of this disease. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins, β2 glycoprotein I (β-2-GPI), and heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) are the best studied of them which can represent promising approach to design worthwhile vaccines for modulation of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In silico approaches are the best tools for design and evaluation of the vaccines before initiating the experimental study. In this study, we identified immunogenic epitopes of HSP60, ApoB-100, and β-2-GPI as major antigens to construct a chimeric protein through bioinformatics tools. Additionally, we have evaluated physico-chemical properties, structures, stability, MHC binding properties, humoral and cellular immune responses, and allergenicity of this chimeric protein by means of bioinformatics tools and servers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Validation results indicated that 89.1% residues locate in favorite or additional allowed region of Ramachandran plot. Also, based on Ramachandran plot analysis this protein could be classified as a stable fusion protein. In addition, the epitopes in the chimeric protein had strong potential to induce both the B-cell and T-cell mediated immune responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results supported that this chimeric vaccine could be effectively utilized as a multivalent vaccine for prevention and modulation of atherosclerosis.
authors: Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors: Ahmad
authors: 0000-0002-9511-7839
authors: A
authors: Karkhah
authors: Applied Microbiology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Jafar
authors: 0000-0002-5155-4738
authors: J
authors: Amani
keywords: Apolipoprotein B-100; Atherosclerosis; Beta 2-glycoprotein I; HSP60; Vaccine