Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University (GCU), Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Virol J. 2013 Apr 10;10:113. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-10-113.
HCV infection is a major health problem causing acute and chronic hepatitis. HCV E1 protein is a transmembrane protein that is involved in viral attachment and therefore, can serve as an important target for vaccine development. Consequently, this study was designed to analyze the HCV E1 protein sequence isolated in Pakistan to find potential conserved epitopes/antigenic determinants.
HCV E1 protein isolated in Pakistan was analyzed using various bio-informatics and immuno-informatics tools including sequence and structure tools. A total of four antigenic B cell epitopes, 5 MHC class I binding peptides and 5 MHC class II binding peptides were predicted. Best designed epitopes were subjected to conservation analyses with other countries.
The study was conducted to predict antigenic determinants/epitopes of HCV E1 protein of genotype 3a along with the 3D protein modeling. The study revealed potential B-cell and T-cell epitopes that can raise the desired immune response against HCV E1 protein isolated in Pakistan. Conservation analysis can be helpful in developing effective vaccines against HCV and thus limiting threats of HCV infection in Pakistan.
HCV 感染是一个主要的健康问题，可导致急性和慢性肝炎。HCV E1 蛋白是一种跨膜蛋白，参与病毒附着，因此可以作为疫苗开发的重要靶点。因此，本研究旨在分析在巴基斯坦分离的 HCV E1 蛋白序列，以寻找潜在的保守表位/抗原决定簇。
使用各种生物信息学和免疫信息学工具，包括序列和结构工具，对在巴基斯坦分离的 HCV E1 蛋白进行了分析。共预测了四个抗原 B 细胞表位、5 个 MHC Ⅰ类结合肽和 5 个 MHC Ⅱ类结合肽。最佳设计的表位与其他国家进行了保守性分析。
本研究旨在预测基因型 3a 的 HCV E1 蛋白的抗原决定簇/表位，并进行 3D 蛋白建模。研究揭示了潜在的 B 细胞和 T 细胞表位，可以针对在巴基斯坦分离的 HCV E1 蛋白引起所需的免疫反应。保守性分析有助于开发针对 HCV 的有效疫苗，从而限制 HCV 感染在巴基斯坦的威胁。
