A multi-epitope vaccine incorporating adhesin-derived antigens protects against <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> infection and dissemination.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Adhesion to host cells is the first and essential step in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection. Among adhesion molecules, the PGRS domain of PE_PGRS33 plays a critical role in invasion but is dominated by B cell epitopes and lacks sufficient T cell epitopes, restricting its capacity to induce a balanced immune response.

Methods

To overcome this limitation, we employed an integrative reverse vaccinology pipeline combining computational prediction and experimental validation. Helper and cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes were incorporated from multiple M. tuberculosis adhesins as well as other virulence-associated proteins, and adjuvant sequences were systematically evaluated in silico.

Results

Among three multi-epitope c

SUBMITTER: Yang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12672431 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature