Designing of multi-epitope chimeric vaccine using immunoinformatic platform by targeting oncogenic strain HPV 16 and 18 against cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer and reaches an alarming stage. HPVs are considered the main causative agents for cervical cancer and other sexually transmitted infections across the globe. Currently, three prophylactic vaccines are available against HPV infections with no therapeutic values. Due to a lack of effective therapeutic and prophylactic measures, the HPV infection is spreading in an uncontrolled manner. Next-generation of vaccine is needed to have both prophylactic and therapeutic values against HPV. Here first time we have designed a multi-epitope chimeric vaccine using the most oncogenic strain HPV 16 and HPV 18 through an immunoinformatic approach. In this study, we have used the L1, E5, E6 and E7 oncoproteins from both HPV 16 and HPV 18 strains for epitope prediction. Our recombinant chimeric vaccine construct consists, selected helper and cytotoxic T cell epitopes. Our computational analysis suggests that this chimeric construct is highly stable, non-toxic and also capable of inducing both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. Furthermore, in silico cloning of the multi-epitope chimeric vaccine construct was done and the stabilization of the vaccine construct is validated with molecular dynamics simulation studies. Finally, our results indicated that our construct could be used for an effective prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine against HPV.

Automated summary

This study presents the design of a multi-epitope chimeric vaccine against HPV infection for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes. Computational analysis and molecular dynamics simulation validate the stability and immunogenicity of the vaccine construct.