In silico characterization of ferritin 2 conserved motifs and B-cell epitopes in Hyalomma anatolicum.

Abstract

Importance: Ferritin 2 (Fer2) is a well-established candidate antigen for anti-tick vaccines, but few studies have investigated the potential of Hyalomma anatolicum Fer2 as an antigenic peptide.

Objective: To characterize the H. anatolicum fer 2 coding sequence, conserved motifs, predicted structure, and linear B-cell epitopes.

Methods: The complete coding sequence region of the H. anatolicum Fer2 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The biological properties and effective antigenic peptide of H. anatolicum Fer2 protein were analyzed.

Results: The Fer2 sequence of H. anatolicum collected showed the highest similarity to that of H. anatolicum from Turpan, Xinjiang (accession No. ALJ92580.1), and the phylogenetic analysis accurately classified Fer2 among the different tick species. The biological property results showed that H. anatolicum Fer2 is a non-transmembrane protein with a signal peptide and a typical Fer protein structure. Motif analysis showed that different tick 5 motifs were in random combinations, but motifs 1, 2, and 4 were contained in all tick Fer2 proteins. Correspondence existed between motifs and antigens, with motif 1 containing the highest-scoring antigenic epitope.

Conclusions and relevance: H. anatolicum fer 2 motif 1 contains a conserved, high-scoring predicted linear B-cell epitope and warrants experimental immunogenicity and protection studies before consideration as an anti-tick vaccine peptide.