In silico design and characterization of a novel multi-epitope mRNA vaccine candidate against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a major cause of pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia, and secondary infections following viral respiratory diseases such as influenza and COVID-19. Because current polysaccharide-based vaccines protect only against selected serotypes, there is a pressing need for serotype-independent strategies. In this study, a novel multi-epitope mRNA vaccine candidate against S. pneumoniae was designed using immunoinformatics approaches. The immunodominant regions of PsaA and PspA were fused with flexible linkers, and TLR agonist domains derived from Ply and PepO were incorporated as adjuvants to enhance immune activation. The resulting construct, named YAPO, was predicted to possess favorable physicochemical and immunological properties, including stability, sol

SUBMITTER: Sabzevari J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12748896 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature