bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Oct. 29, 2024
Abstract
Background
T
cell
epitope
prediction
methods
have
been
broadly
utilized
to
facilitate
discovery
in
infectious
agents
and
help
design
reagents,
diagnostics,
vaccines.
Current
are
mainly
focused
on
peptide
presentation
by
MHC
molecules,
which
is
a
necessary
but
not
sufficient
requirement
for
an
epitope.
For
complex
pathogens
such
as
bacteria,
it
would
be
desirable
make
predictions
more
specific
limit
the
number
of
candidates
that
experimentally
tested.
Objective
To
develop
machine
learning-based
model
integrates
both
peptide-level
antigen-level
features
improve
specificity
CD4+
bacteria.
Methods
We
used
dataset
20,216
peptides
from
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
(Mtb),
tested
recognition
Mtb-infected
participants,
led
n
=
144
epitopes.
each
peptide,
we
calculated
six
(e.g.
class
II
binding
conservation
scores)
including
RNA
expression
levels
subcellular
localization
scores).
Three
learning
algorithms—Random
Forest,
Gradient
Boosting,
XGBoost—were
trained
using
stratified,
5-fold
cross-validation
combined
into
ensemble
model.
Experimental
validation
was
performed
Streptococcus
pneumoniae
peptides,
ex
vivo
IFNγ
assays
confirm
predictive
performance.
Results
The
achieved
ROC-AUC
0.91
predicting
immunogenic
(Mtb)
dataset.
Gene
were
identified
most
impactful
features,
followed
predictions.
When
validated
independent
Bordetella
pertussis
dataset,
demonstrated
accurate
capability,
especially
with
broad
participant
cohort
(ROC-AUC
up
0.82).
Prospectively
applying
,
synthesized
predicted
our
or
non-immunogenic.
Ex
testing
PBMCs
healthy
participants
showed
elicited
significantly
higher
responses
than
non-immunogenic
validating
Conclusions
Our
approach,
integrating
antigen
effectively
predicts
epitopes
across
different
bacterial
pathogens.
This
method
enhances
selection
efficiency,
aiding
vaccine
development
immunological
research
reducing
need
extensive
experimental
screening.
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
20(1)
Published: April 2, 2024
Pertussis
has
several
notable
consequences,
causing
economic
burden,
increased
strain
on
healthcare
facilities,
and
reductions
in
quality
of
life.
Recent
years
have
seen
a
trend
toward
an
increase
pertussis
cases
affecting
older
children
adults.
To
boost
immunity,
protect
vulnerable
populations,
enduring
approach
to
vaccination
been
proposed,
but
gaps
remain
the
evidence
surrounding
adult
that
are
needed
inform
such
policy.
Gaps
include:
true
incidence
its
complications
adults;
regional
variations
disease
recognition
reporting;
severe
disease,
hospitalizations,
deaths
Better
data
efficacy/effectiveness
adults,
duration
protection,
factors
leading
poor
vaccine
uptake
needed.
Addressing
critical
will
help
highlight
important
areas
unmet
need
justify
importance
professionals,
policymakers,
payers.
Cell Reports,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
42(11), P. 113294 - 113294
Published: Oct. 25, 2023
Bordetella
spp.
are
respiratory
pathogens
equipped
with
immune
evasion
mechanisms.
We
previously
characterized
a
bronchiseptica
mutant
(RB50ΔbtrS)
that
fails
to
suppress
host
responses,
leading
rapid
clearance
and
long-lasting
immunity
against
reinfection.
This
work
revealed
eosinophils
as
an
exclusive
requirement
for
RB50ΔbtrS
clearance.
also
show
promotes
eosinophil-mediated
B/T
cell
recruitment
inducible
bronchus-associated
lymphoid
tissue
(iBALT)
formation,
being
present
throughout
iBALT
Th17
immunoglobulin
A
(IgA)
responses.
Finally,
we
provide
evidence
XCL1
is
critical
formation
but
not
maintenance,
proposing
novel
role
facilitators
of
adaptive
B.
bronchiseptica.
incapable
suppressing
eosinophil
effector
functions
illuminates
active,
bacterial
targeting
achieve
successful
persistence
Overall,
our
discoveries
contribute
understanding
cellular
mechanisms
use
in
future
vaccines
therapies
extension
other
mucosal
pathogens.
Whooping
cough,
or
pertussis,
is
a
highly
infectious
respiratory
disease
caused
by
infection
with
the
Gram-negative
bacterial
pathogen
Bordetella
pertussis.
Pertussis
affects
all
age
groups
and
populations;
however,
it
most
severe
in
infants
who
are
too
young
to
receive
vaccinations
remains
global
health
concern
more
than
200,000
cases
reported
globally
2023.
Vaccines
against
pertussis
have
been
available
United
States
since
1940's
development
widespread
use
of
whole
cell
vaccines.
Following
their
introduction,
incidence
was
controlled
limited
fewer
than
5,000
per
year.
Despite
demonstrated
efficacy,
vaccines
were
immunogenic
variable
nature
often
led
worrisome,
side
effects.
Due
this,
replaced
lesser
reactogenic
acellular
1990's,
which
still
this
day
industrialized
countries.
After
introduction
vaccines,
there
has
an
increase
several
noteworthy
outbreaks,
such
as
U.S.
outbreak
2012
resulted
over
50,000
20
deaths,
2024
Czech
Republic
experienced
its
highest
1960s.
This
reemergence
calls
for
next-generation
address
overcome
pitfalls
current
There
many
hypotheses
why
triggered
resurgence,
including
evolution
response
selective
pressure
on
vaccine
antigens,
increased
rates
reporting,
well
short-lived
duration
immunity
that
follows
vaccination.
The
overall
objective
worked
covered
thesis
additional
pitfall
being
breadth
antigen
coverage
lack
thereof
functional
immune
responses
can
promote
clearance.
In
these
studies,
we
employed
murine
model
vaccination
B.
challenge
novel
redesigned
antigens
assessed
capability
invoke
robust
humoral
subsequently
protect
At
onset
work,
identified
proteins
contained
mice
when
formulated
peptide-based
conjugate
Although
immunogenic,
peptides
insufficient
elicit
protection
mice.
Next,
characterized
immunogenicity
protective
efficacy
derived
from
iron
acquisition
surface
receptors
expressed
previously
found
be
upregulated
upon
infection.
Similarly,
however
they
failed
confer
either
alone
combination
subprotective
dose
DTaP.
Finally,
instead
characterizing
sought
redesign
known
filamentous
hemagglutinin.
Toward
goal,
designed
truncated
based
mature
C-terminal
domain
hemagglutinin
fused
virus-like
particles.
conferred
significant
evaluated
strain
lacking
toxin.
Overall,
work
redesigned,
promise
could
included
next
generation
Additionally,
sheds
light
complexity
preclinical
lays
groundwork
future
exploration
other
platforms.
Expert Review of Vaccines,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
23(1), P. 705 - 714
Published: July 22, 2024
Whooping
cough,
also
known
as
pertussis,
remains
a
significant
challenge
vaccine-preventable
disease
worldwide.
Since
the
switch
from
whole-cell
Pertussis
(wP)
vaccine
to
acellular
(aP),
cases
of
whooping
cough
have
increased
in
countries
using
aP
vaccine.
Understanding
immune
system's
response
pertussis
vaccines
and
infection
is
crucial
for
improving
current
efficacy.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Oct. 25, 2024
ABSTRACT
Chikungunya
virus
(CHIKV),
a
mosquito-borne
alphavirus,
causes
acute
febrile
illness
that
can
progress
into
chronic
chikungunya
disease
(CHIKVD)
marked
by
persistent
debilitating
arthralgia.
At
present,
the
exact
cause
of
CHIKVD
is
not
understood,
and
in
humans,
targets
CD4
+
T
cells
CHIKV
are
currently
unknown.
Here,
stimulating
peripheral
blood
mononuclear
(PBMCs)
collected
from
patients
suffering
with
peptides
spanning
entire
genome,
we
provide
comprehensive
landscape
cell
epitopes.
We
identified
123
novel
epitopes
three
immunodominant
regions
E1,
nsP1
CP
proteins.
The
immunodominance
these
was
mapped
to
optimal
epitopes,
characterized
capacity
bind
many
common
HLA
class
II
allelic
variants.
In
addition,
designed
validated
new
CHIKV-specific
epitope
megapool,
both
structural
non-structural
proteins,
which
be
useful
tool
study
responses
small
volumes,
typically
available
pediatric
or
clinical
samples.
Finally,
silico
assessment
conservation
proteome
diverse
set
alphaviruses,
defined
conserved
across
arthritogenic
encephalitic
viruses.
Overall,
our
work
first
identify
expanding
role
pathogenesis
mapping
alphaviruses
for
vaccine
design.