Exploring Adenylate Kinase 8 (ADK8) of Echinococcus granulosus as a Novel Immunogen against Cystic Echinococcosis: A Computational Perspective.
10 affiliations
- 1School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Darab, Iran.
- 2Department of Paraclinic, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Kunduz University, Kunduz province, Afghanistan.
- 3Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
- 4Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
- 5D.V.M. Graduated, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
- 6Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
- 7Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran.
- 8Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- 9Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
- 10Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Vaccination represents a promising strategy for preventing hydatidosis. We aimed to characterize the physicochemical properties of adenylate kinase 8 from Echinococcus granulosus (EgADK8) and identify potential B- and T-cell epitopes as vaccine candidates.Methods
Multiple web-based servers were employed to predict immunogenic epitopes and evaluate the physicochemical, antigenic, structural, and subcellular characteristics of EgADK8.Results
EgADK8 was predicted to be an extracellular protein with a molecular weight of 38.78 kDa. The protein showed no allergenic potential and exhibited high hydrophilicity, predicted thermal stability, and 36 potential post-translational modification sites. The secondary structure was mainly composed of alpha helices and random coils. The highest-quality three-dimensional model generated by the Robetta server achieved a confidence score of 0.79. Three independent prediction servers identified 16 linear and 9 conformational B-cell epitopes. Furthermore, two helper T lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes with predicted IFN-γ-inducing potential were identified after comprehensive screening. Additionally, five immunogenic human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes with predicted IFN-γ-inducing potential and three murine CTL epitopes were identified.Conclusion
These findings provide preliminary computational evidence supporting further investigation of EgADK8 as a potential component of a multiepitope vaccine against CE. The main limitation of this study was its reliance on computational analyses. Therefore, experimental validation using the whole protein and/or selected epitopes, either individually or in combination with other antigens, is required.
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BibTeX
@article{mazidi2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring Adenylate Kinase 8 (ADK8) of Echinococcus granulosus as a Novel Immunogen against Cystic Echinococcosis: A Computational Perspective.}},
author = {Bahareh Bahadori Mazidi and Zabihullah Fasehi and Hamed Abdollahi and Mehrnoosh Naderizadeh and Alireza Najafi and Shadan Ghiabi and Ali Asghari and Mohammad Fathollahzadeh and Hamidreza Majidiani and Leyli Shabani},
journal = {Iranian journal of parasitology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22590},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974470},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploring Adenylate Kinase 8 (ADK8) of Echinococcus granulosus as a Novel Immunogen against Cystic Echinococcosis: A Computational Perspective.
AU - Bahareh Bahadori Mazidi
AU - Zabihullah Fasehi
AU - Hamed Abdollahi
AU - Mehrnoosh Naderizadeh
AU - Alireza Najafi
AU - Shadan Ghiabi
AU - Ali Asghari
AU - Mohammad Fathollahzadeh
AU - Hamidreza Majidiani
AU - Leyli Shabani
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Iranian journal of parasitology
DO - 10.18502/ijpa.v21i3.22590
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974470
AB - Background Vaccination represents a promising strategy for preventing hydatidosis. We aimed to characterize the physicochemical properties of adenylate kinase 8 from Echinococcus granulosus (EgADK8) and identify potential B- and T-cell epitopes as vaccine candidates.Methods Multiple web-based servers were employed to predict immunogenic epitopes and evaluate the physicochemical, antigenic, structural, and subcellular characteristics of EgADK8.Results EgADK8 was predicted to be an extracellular protein with a molecular weight of 38.78 kDa. The protein showed no allergenic potential and exhibited high hydrophilicity, predicted thermal stability, and 36 potential post-translational modification sites. The secondary structure was mainly composed of alpha helices and random coils. The highest-quality three-dimensional model generated by the Robetta server achieved a confidence score of 0.79. Three independent prediction servers identified 16 linear and 9 conformational B-cell epitopes. Furthermore, two helper T lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes with predicted IFN-γ-inducing potential were identified after comprehensive screening. Additionally, five immunogenic human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes with predicted IFN-γ-inducing potential and three murine CTL epitopes were identified.Conclusion These findings provide preliminary computational evidence supporting further investigation of EgADK8 as a potential component of a multiepitope vaccine against CE. The main limitation of this study was its reliance on computational analyses. Therefore, experimental validation using the whole protein and/or selected epitopes, either individually or in combination with other antigens, is required.
SN - 1735-7020
SN - 2008-238X
ER -