A multi-epitope mRNA vaccine candidate against Trichinella spiralis: An integrated immunoinformatics and computational approach

Abstract

Trichinella spiralis is a parasitic nematode causing trichinellosis, a significant zoonotic disease, and the development of an effective vaccine remains a crucial goal. This study employed a comprehensive computational approach to design a multi‑epitope mRNA vaccine against T. spiralis. From 49,084 T. spiralis proteins retrieved from NCBI, secreted and membrane proteins were identified using SignalP 6.0, DeepLoc 2.1, and TMHMM. Antigenic proteins were shortlisted with VaxiJen. B‑cell, cytotoxic T‑lymphocyte (CTL), and helper T‑lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes were predicted using ABCpred and IEDB servers. The vaccine construct was designed with an adjuvant, selected epitopes, and necessary mRNA elements. Its antigenicity, allergenicity, and physicochemical properties were evaluated. Codon optimization, secondary and tertiary structure prediction, molecular docking with Toll‑like receptors (TLRs), molecular dynamics simulations, and immune response profiling were performed. From 2,991 secreted proteins, nine highly antigenic proteins were selected, yielding 36 epitopes (18 B‑cell, 9 CTL, 9 HTL), all confirmed as antigenic, non‑allergenic, and non‑toxic. The designed vaccine construct is antigenic (VaxiJen score 0.84), non‑allergenic, non‑toxic, and stable. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities with TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4; normal mode analysis confirmed complex stability; immune simulation predicted robust activation of cellular and humoral immune responses, including elevated cytokines and immunoglobulins. The proposed multi‑epitope mRNA vaccine candidate demonstrates high immunogenic potential and stability against T. spiralis, warranting further experimental validation.