Peptides Containing T Cell Epitopes of ZIKA Virus Envelope Protein Sharing Homology To Other Flavivirus Species

Abstract

The concept of peptide-based vaccines against viral infection has made significant progress and it has been reached to different clinical trials. Envelope protein in flaviviruses virus play an important role in assembly of virions, host cell binding and membrane fusion and cover majority of the virion surface, which makes them ideal candidate for peptide based vaccine development In the present study, conserved peptides containing multiple T cell epitopes of Zika virus envelope protein were compared from flaviviruses envelop protein for sequence homology todevelop a cross protective vaccine effective against various flaviviridae members. Seven peptides containing CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes were taken from previous report. These peptides were looked for their homology in four flavivirus (Dengue, West Nile Virus, Japanese Encephalitis virus, and Spondweni virus).Four peptides (P2, P5, P6 and P7) containing multiple epitopes of Zika virus Envelope protein were observed to have a remarkable sequence identity (≥ 70%) in all four flaviviruses. Screening studies reveal thatall the peptides belonging to different flaviviruses having sequence identitywere non-allergen and non self.Peptides have shown RMSD value (CABS-dock) less than three which indicates a strong binding potential with HLA molecules.Hence, it is suggested that these peptides may be considered for synthetic peptide vaccine design against Flaviviruses.