In-silico Hierarchical Approach for the Identification of Potential Universal Vaccine Candidates (PUVCs) from Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Resistance to the currently recommended extended-spectrum cephalosporins, which is used to treat Gonorrhea, is increasing continuously and leading to a threat of untreatable infection. It is, therefore, becoming extremely essential to search for new therapeutic strategies to control Gonorrhea. Vaccination may be considered as an effective control measure to control this disease, which is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.



In-silico hierarchical approach was used to help identify candidate proteins of N. gonorrhoeae that might contribute significantly in vaccine research. In contrast to the conventional vaccine research which requires at least 10-12 years, the present approach would reduce the time period drastically and help to identify Potential Universal Vaccine Candidates (PUVCs). These proteins were further analyzed for the presence of T-cell and linear B-cell epitopes, by using HLAPred and ABCpred servers respectively, in order to facilitate the identification of Multi Epitope Peptide Vaccine Constructs.



We have identified 23 non-host candidate proteins, using the proteomic information of four sequenced strains of N. gonorrhoeae namely FA 1090, TCDC_NG08107, NCCP11945 and MS11 and labeled them as PUVCs. Since all these identified 23 PUVCs contained both T cell and B cell epitopes, these have been further reiterated as PUVCs which could be used as promising leads for vaccine development.



This hierarchical approach is the first comprehensive study to identify potential vaccine candidates which once utilized for vaccine development would surely serve as promising tools for effective control of Gonorrhea.
Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110075, India.
Ravi
R
Jain
Dr B R Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
Subash C
SC
Sonkar
Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110075, India.
Uma
U
Chaudhry
V.M. Medical College & Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi 110029, India.
Manju
M
Bala
Dr B R Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India. Electronic address: dsalujach59@gmail.com.
Daman
D
Saluja
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D040901:Proteomics
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
Multi Epitope Peptide Vaccine; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Potential Universal Vaccine Candidates