AUTHOR=Soto Luis F. , Romaní Ana C. , Jiménez-Avalos Gabriel , Silva Yshoner , Ordinola-Ramirez Carla M. , Lopez Lapa Rainer M. , Requena David 

TITLE=Immunoinformatic analysis of the whole proteome for vaccine design: An application to Clostridium perfringens

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.942907

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.942907

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Clostridium perfringens</italic> is a dangerous bacterium and known biological warfare weapon associated with several diseases, whose lethal toxins can produce necrosis in humans. However, there is no safe and fully effective vaccine against <italic>C. perfringens</italic> for humans yet. To address this problem, we computationally screened its whole proteome, identifying highly immunogenic proteins, domains, and epitopes. First, we identified that the proteins with the highest epitope density are Collagenase A, Exo-alpha-sialidase, alpha n-acetylglucosaminidase and hyaluronoglucosaminidase, representing potential recombinant vaccine candidates. Second, we further explored the toxins, finding that the non-toxic domain of Perfringolysin O is enriched in CTL and HTL epitopes. This domain could be used as a potential sub-unit vaccine to combat gas gangrene. And third, we designed a multi-epitope protein containing 24 HTL-epitopes and 34 CTL-epitopes from extracellular regions of transmembrane proteins. Also, we analyzed the structural properties of this novel protein using molecular dynamics. Altogether, we are presenting a thorough immunoinformatic exploration of the whole proteome of <italic>C. perfringens</italic>, as well as promising whole-protein, domain-based and multi-epitope vaccine candidates. These can be evaluated in preclinical trials to assess their immunogenicity and protection against <italic>C. perfringens</italic> infection.</p>