{
  "abstract": "Introduction: Marburg virus (MARV) is a hemorrhagic fever virus, and its glycoprotein (GP) represents an important target for vaccine research. MHC class I (MHC-I)-restricted T cell epitopes are critical for inducing cytotoxic CD8 ⁺ T cell responses. In this study, we aimed to identify MHC-I-restricted T cell epitopes derived from the MARV Angola strain GP through an integrated bioinformatics and experimental approach.\n\nMethods: We retrieved the MARV Angola strain GP sequence and divided it into 673 overlapping 9-mer peptides. By integrating five computational prediction algorithms, immunogenicity scoring tools and BLASTp conservation analysis, we screened 9-mer peptides from the MARV Angola GP. Molecular docking was performed with MHC-I structures using HPEPDOCK and molecular dynamics (MD) analysis. Bidirectional hierarchical clustering was used to analyze binding similarity across MHC-I molecules. Mutations identified in epitope regions were tested for their effect on affinity. Toxicity and allergenicity of the epitopes were predicted using dedicated tools. Finally, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were immunized with a DNA vaccine encoding MARV GP. IFN-γ secretion in mouse splenocytes was then measured by ELISpot, serum IgG by ELISA, and CD8 ⁺ T cell cytokine production by flow cytometry.\n\nResults: Among 673 GP peptides, eight epitopes (GAFFLYDRI, REGDMFPFL, DMFPFLDGL, NENDCDAEL, AGLSWIPFF, NQNNLVCRL, TGWGLGGKW, SDWGVLTNL) were predicted to exhibit high-affinity MHC-I binding, strong immunogenicity, and intraspecies conservation. Bidirectional hierarchical clustering analysis, molecular docking, sequence alignment, and toxicity/allergenicity predictions suggested binding across selected alleles, structural stability, limited impact from identified mutations, and low predicted toxicity. In subsequent ELISpot validation, eight epitopes elicited strong IFN-γ responses. In addition, serum from GP-immunized mice contained IgG that bound the corresponding linear peptide sequences.\n\nConclusion: An integrated computational-experimental pipeline identified eight conserved, immunogenic MHC-I epitopes from MARV GP. These selected epitopes may serve as promising candidates for future vaccine design.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Immunology, The Key Laboratory of Bio-hazard Damage and Prevention Medicine, Basic Medicine School, Air-Force Medical University (the Fourth Military Medical University)",
    "Department of Rehabilitation, Tangdu Hospital, Air-Force Medical University (the Fourth Military Medical University)",
    "Military Medical Innovation Center, The Fourth Military Medical University",
    "School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong"
  ],
  "article_type": "research support, non u.s. gov't",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 21,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yulin Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jing Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Enqi Guan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hengzheng Wei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yubo Sun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jianchang Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuxuan Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hao-Bo Kang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zhenchi Fang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jierui Zhao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Peiyuan Gao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Binjie Yao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zhikui Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yongkai Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yun Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chunmei Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yuanjie Sun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rui Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kun Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Xiyang Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Dongbo T. Jiang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0wn12qgbt973t.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.1902130",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13680160",
  "id": "0wn12qgbt973t",
  "issns": [
    "1664-3224"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1902130/full",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220736121",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13680160?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13680160",
  "pmid": "42903143",
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0wn12qgbt973t.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:15Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.1902130",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1902130/full"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:57Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42903143",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903143"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Integrated immunoreactivity analysis of MHC-I epitopes derived from the Marburg virus glycoprotein",
  "title_text": "Integrated immunoreactivity analysis of MHC-I epitopes derived from the Marburg virus glycoprotein",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:57Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/0wn12qgbt973t",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Immunology",
  "versions": []
}