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Identification of Antigenic Properties of Acinetobacter baumannii Proteins as Novel Putative Vaccine Candidates Using Reverse Vaccinology Approach

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Abstract

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) infections are becoming more prevalent all over the world. As a cost-effective and preventative method, vaccination seems to be required against this bacterium. In the present study, subtractive proteomics along with reverse vaccinology approaches was used to predict suitable therapeutics against A. baumannii. Using the Vaxign online tool, we studied over 35 genomes of A. baumannii strains and chose outer membrane and secreted proteins of A. baumannii 1656–2 as possible vaccine candidates. Then, investigations were performed on the immunogenicity, antigenic characteristics, physicochemical properties, B-cell and MHC class I, and MHC class II molecules epitope densities of proteins. After optimizing the codon of the proteins, the pcDNA3.1( +) expression construct was designed and the immunogenicity, allergenicity, and physicochemical properties of the vaccine construct were predicted. Hcp and OmpC proteins were predicted as extracellular and outer membrane proteins, respectively. These proteins interact with 10 other proteins to form a network of protein interactions with virulence properties. Immunoassays of Hcp and OmpC proteins showed antigenicity of 0.88 and 0.79, respectively. These proteins have 5 structural cell epitope points and 5 linear B epitope points. They are also able to bind to different HLA alleles of MCH class I/class II as selected immunogenic proteins and designed non-allergenic structures with solubility of 0.650 and immunogenicity score of 0.91. The results of this “in silico” study indicate high specificity and the development of a significant humoral and cellular immune response. It can be concluded that the Hcp and OmpC dual vaccine construct is one of the promising candidates against A. baumannii. The findings of this “in silico” study show excellent specificity and the emergence of a substantial humoral and cellular immune response. This is a computer-based study that needs to be tested in vitro and in vivo to corroborate the conclusions of the vaccine design procedures.

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Data Availability

The datasets analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the staff members of the Biotechnology Research Center of Islamic Azad University of Shahrekord Branch in Iran for their help and support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Biology, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran

    Tohid Piri-Gharaghie & Seyed Abbas Mirzaei

  2. Biotechnology Research Center, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran

    Abbas Doosti

  3. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

    Seyed Abbas Mirzaei

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  1. Tohid Piri-Gharaghie
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Contributions

Tohid Piri-Gharaghie: Conceptualization, methodology, resources, writing—review and editing, supervision, funding acquisition. Abbas Doosti: Methodology, software, validation, formal analysis, writing—original draft. Seyed Abbas Mirzaei: Visualization, project administration.

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Correspondence to Abbas Doosti.

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The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Shahrekord Branch in Iran [IR.IAU.SHK.REC.1400.046].

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Piri-Gharaghie, T., Doosti, A. & Mirzaei, S.A. Identification of Antigenic Properties of Acinetobacter baumannii Proteins as Novel Putative Vaccine Candidates Using Reverse Vaccinology Approach. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 194, 4892–4914 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-022-03995-5

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