In silico identification and characterization of common epitope-based peptide vaccine for Nipah and Hendra viruses

Objective: To explore a common B-and T-cell epitope-based vaccine that can elicit an immune response against encephalitis causing genus Henipaviruses, Hendra virus(He V) and Nipah virus(Ni V). Methods: Membrane proteins F, G and M of He V and Ni V were retrieved from the protein database and subjected to different bioinformatics tools to predict antigenic B-cell epitopes. Best B-cell epitopes were then analyzed to predict their T-cell antigenic potentiality. Antigenic B-and T-cell epitopes that shared maximum identity with He V and Ni V were selected. Stability of the selected epitopes was predicted. Finally, the selected epitopes were subjected to molecular docking simulation with HLA-DR to confirm their antigenic potentiality in silico. Results: One epitope from G proteins, one from M proteins and none from F proteins were selected based on their antigenic potentiality. The epitope from the G proteins was stable whereas that from M was unstable. The M-epitope was made stable by adding flanking dipeptides. The 15-mer G-epitope(VDPLRVQWRNNSVIS) showed at least 66% identity with all Ni V and He V G protein sequences, while the 15-mer M-epitope(GKLEFRRNNAIAFKG) with the dipeptide flanking residues showed 73% identity with all Ni V and He V M protein sequences available in the database. Molecular docking simulation with most frequent MHC class-II(MHC II) and class-I(MHC I) molecules showed that these epitopes could bind within HLA binding grooves to elicit an immune response. Conclusions: Data in our present study revealed the notion that the epitopes from G and M proteins might be the target for peptide-based subunit vaccine design against He V and Ni V. However, the biochemical analysis is necessary to experimentally validate the interaction of epitopes individually with the MHC molecules through elucidation of immunity induction.

Probable beneficial effects of black seeds (Nigella sativa) in the management of langya henipavirus infection

Background:The patients with Langya henipavirus(LayV)infection are managed mainly with symptomatic treatment and supportive care.Objective:This review article focuses on the beneficial effects of black seeds(Nigella sativa)in the management of Langya henipavirus(LayV)infection.Methods:The literature was searched in online databases,including Medline/Pubmed/PMC,Google Scholar,Science Direct,Ebsco,Scopus,Web of Science,Embase,and reference lists,to identify published studies,which established beneficial effects of black seeds(N.sativa)related to signs and symptoms of LayV infection.Results:Black seeds(N.sativa)have shown potential antiviral,bronchodilatory,antihistaminic,antitussive,hepatoprotective,renoprotective,anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and immunomodulatory properties in various clinical,animal,in-vitro,in-vivo,and in-silico studies,which would help the patients with LayV infection.Conclusion:N.sativa would be a potential herbal candidate in the management of LayV infection along with symptomatic treatment and supportive care,to prevent further deterioration,and hospitalization.The safety and efficacy of N.sativa in patients with LayV infection would further be established by future randomized controlled clinical trials.

Human Monoclonal Antibodies as Candidate Therapeutics Against Emerging Viruses and HIV-1

More than 40 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been approved for a number of disease indications with only one of these (Synagis) - for a viral disease, and not for therapy but for prevention. However, in the last decade novel potent mAbs have been discovered and characterized with potential as therapeutics against viruses of major importance for public health and biosecurity including Hendra virus (HeV), Nipah virus (NiV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Ebola virus (EBOV), West Nile virus (WNV), influenza virus (IFV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Here, we review such mAbs with an emphasis on antibodies of human origin, and highlight recent results as well as technologies and mechanisms related to their potential as therapeutics.

Reverse genetics: Unlocking the secrets of negative sense RNA viral pathogens

Negative-sense RNA viruses comprise several zoonotic pathogens that mutate rapidly and frequently emerge in people including Influenza, Ebola, Rabies, Hendra and Nipah viruses. Acute respiratory distress syndrome, encephalitis and vasculitis are common disease outcomes in people as a result of pathogenic viral infection, and are also associated with high case fatality rates. Viral spread from exposure sites to systemic tissues and organs is mediated by virulence factors, including viral attachment glycoproteins and accessory proteins, and their contribution to infection and disease have been delineated by reverse genetics; a molecular approach that enables researchers to experimentally produce recombinant and reassortant viruses from cloned cD NA. Through reverse genetics we have developed a deeper understanding of virulence factors key to disease causation thereby enabling development of targeted antiviral therapies and well-defined live attenuated vaccines. Despite the value of reverse genetics for virulence factor discovery, classical reverse genetic approaches may not provide sufficient resolution for characterization of heterogeneous viral populations, because current techniques recover clonal virus, representing a consensus sequence. In this review the contribution of reverse genetics to virulence factor characterization is outlined, while the limitation of the technique is discussed withreference to new technologies that may be utilized to improve reverse genetic approaches.