Mehreen Riaz
60371227100
Publications - 1
Analyzing the ORFV virus proteome through rational development of a multiepitope subunit vaccine using the molecular docking and reverse vaccinology approach
Publication Name: Journal of Molecular Liquids
Publication Date: 2026-04-01
Volume: 447
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
ORFV, also known as Ecthyma contagiosum, in humans is the Orf virus (ORFV), which mostly infects various wild and domesticated animals. A highly contagious zoonotic viral infection is a major concern to everyone who works with sheep and goats. According to taxonomy, ORFV belongs to the genus Parapoxvirus. People encounter animals, their exposed skin areas usually develop sores. Even though the quantity of infected individuals and appearances are thought to be less dangerous, the pathogenic virus's high fatality rate is still a serious concern. Vaccine construct There is currently no approved vaccine to lessen the epidemiological and clinical burden of this highly contagious illness. Thus, the target proteins of ORFV are used in our current investigation to design and formulate a multi-epitope vaccination using immunoinformatic approaches. Potential T-cell and B-cell epitopes from the two pathogenic proteins of ORFV were tested using selection criteria. The chosen epitopes were then put together using the appropriate adjuvants and linkers. MHC cluster analysis and population coverage of the chosen epitopes were both satisfactory. To maintain the tertiary or quaternary relationships, we used disulfide bonding engineering. Additionally, normal-mode analysis was used to investigate the vaccine protein stability and kinematics. The immunological simulation research of vaccine complexes also yielded substantial findings. Furthermore, the molecular docking demonstrated a greater affinity of −265.85 kcal/mol for toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4). Molecular dynamics simulations resulted in the stability of the complex system with (mean RMSD: 7.7 Å; Rg: 18.6 Å), exhibiting localized flexibility at certain residues. Calculations of binding free energy (ΔG = −456.67 kcal/mol, GBSA; −469.56 kcal/mol, PBSA) indicated highly favorable and spontaneous interactions facilitated by electrostatic and van der Waals forces. Herein, our research findings revealed that the vaccine designs may modulate encouraging immune responses against the pathophysiology of ORFV. Therefore, it can generate a baseline pipeline for the experimentalist for in vivo and in vitro investigations.
Open Access: Yes