Advancing PEDV Vaccination: Comparison between Inactivated and Flagellin N-Terminus-Adjuvanted Subunit Vaccines
Asad Murtaza,
Nguyen-Thanh Hoa,
Do Dieu-Huong,
Haroon Afzal,
Muhammad Hamza Tariq,
Li-Ting Cheng,
Yao-Chi Chung
Affiliations
Asad Murtaza
International Program in Animal Vaccine Technology, International College, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
Nguyen-Thanh Hoa
International Program in Animal Vaccine Technology, International College, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
Do Dieu-Huong
International Program in Animal Vaccine Technology, International College, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
Haroon Afzal
International Program in Animal Vaccine Technology, International College, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
Muhammad Hamza Tariq
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
Li-Ting Cheng
Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
Yao-Chi Chung
Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
Vaccinations can serve as an important preventive measure against the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus that currently threatens the swine industry. This study focuses on the development of a fusion protein vaccine, FliC99-mCOE, which combines the N-terminus of flagellin (FliC99) with a modified core neutralizing epitope (mCOE) of PEDV. In silico immunoinformatic analysis confirmed the construct’s non-toxic, non-allergenic, and highly antigenic nature. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated FliC99-mCOE’s strong binding to the TLR-5 immunological receptor. Repeated exposure simulations and immunological simulations suggested enhanced cell-mediated immunity. Both FliC99-mCOE and an inactivated PEDV vaccine were produced and tested in mice. The results from cell proliferation, ELISA, and neutralization assays indicated that FliC99-mCOE effectively stimulated cellular immunity and neutralized PEDV. We conclude that the FliC99-mCOE fusion protein may serve as a promising vaccine candidate against PEDV.
