In Silico Identification of Antigenic Peptides and multi-epitope Vaccine Design against Trichomonas Vaginalis

Background

Trichomonas vaginalis is the etiological agent of trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. The increasing resistance to metronidazole, currently the only FDA-approved treatment, necessitates the development of a novel vaccine to prevent and control this infection.

Methods

In this study, an in silico immunoinformatics pipeline was employed to identify antigenic peptides and construct a multi-epitope vaccine candidate targeting T. vaginalis. Surface and secretory proteins were retrieved and analyzed for antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity. B-cell and T-cell epitopes were predicted using IEDB tools and evaluated based on their binding affinity to common MHC class I and II alleles. Suitable linkers (GPGPG, AAY, EAAAK) and an HBHA adjuvant were incorporated to enhance immunogenicity.

Results

The final vaccine construct consisted of 1081 amino acids and demonstrated high antigenicity, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity. Structural predictions revealed favorable solubility and stability characteristics. Immune simulations indicated strong humoral and cellular immune responses. Population coverage analysis showed broad global applicability, particularly in European populations.

Conclusion

This in silico designed multi-epitope vaccine shows strong potential as a preventive strategy against T. vaginalis. Further experimental validation through in vitro and in vivo studies is necessary to confirm its immunogenicity and protective efficacy.