Seun E. Olufemi

Conference 2023 Presentation

Project title

BIOINFORMATICS DESIGN AND MOLECULAR MODELLING OF mRNA VACCINE FOR CIRCULATING VARIANTS OF SARS-COV-2 VIRUS

Authors and Affiliations

Seun E. Olufemi1,2, Micheal O. Adeniyi1, Mercy T. Ogunlowo1, Boluwatife A. Irewolede1, Victoria O. Adekanola1,4, Glory S. Oluseyi1,3, Janet A. Omilola1,4 Anietie F. Udoh5, Daniel A. Adediran1,2, Aanuoluwapo Olonade2, Usman A. Idowu1,7 Olatunji M. Kolawole8, Julius K. Oloke9, Helen Onyeaka10, and Elijah K. Oladipo1,6.

1Genomics Unit, Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
2Department of Biochemistry, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
3Department of Human and Clinical Anatomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
4Department of Pure And Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
5Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Osun state, Nigeria
6Department of Microbiology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Immunology and Bioinformatics, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State Nigeria. 7Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Microbiology Unit Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
8Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria.
9Department of Natural Science, Precious Cornerstone, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
10School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

Abstract

Background

With the re-evolving and re-emergence of SARS-CoV-2 virus around the world, induction of immune responses and efficacies of vaccines are bound to reduce, with the recent fall backs in the currently available vaccine, designing an effective vaccine for different variants and lineages of SARS-CoV-2 infection would be a study worthy of consideration.

Methods

In this research work, we opt to use immuno-informatics approach to design mRNA vaccine that captures all the circulating variants and lineages of the virus in its construct. Sequences of these viruses were retrieved across the six continent and were analyzed using different tools to screen for the preferable Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), Helper T lymphocyte (HTL) and B-Cell Epitopes. These epitopes were linked by flexible linkers, In addition, several other residues were added in order for the translational effect potential mRNA vaccine.

Results

The construct of the mRNA vaccine has 285.29686 kDa in weight with an estimated pI was 9.2, aliphatic index of 65.85, and an estimated life span of 30hrs in vitro, this epitopes have been shown not to have any cross relational affinity with human genome, and the construct has been estimated to induce an immune response that will cover over 68% of the world population. The construct has been shown via insilico techniques to be relatively stable, non toxic and non allergic. Its interaction, compatibility and stability has been examined with Toll like Receptors TLR 3 and TLR 9 via molecular docking and dynamics analysis

Conclusions

The overall result revealed that the designed vaccine is capable of inducing cell-mediated immune responses by activating the actions of TH cells, Natural killer cells and macrophages and also displayed an increased memory B cell and T cell activities which may
be further validated via invivo and invitro approach.