Applying the Concept of Peptide Uniqueness to Anti-Polio Vaccination

Abstract

Background. Although rare, adverse events may associate with anti-poliovirus vaccination thus possibly hampering global polio eradication worldwide. Objective. To design peptide-based anti-polio vaccines exempt from potential cross-reactivity risks and possibly able to reduce rare potential adverse events such as the postvaccine paralytic poliomyelitis due to the tendency of the poliovirus genome to mutate. Methods. Proteins from poliovirus type 1, strain Mahoney, were analyzed for amino acid sequence identity to the human proteome at the pentapeptide level, searching for sequences that (1) have zero percent of identity to human proteins, (2) are potentially endowed with an immunologic potential, and (3) are highly conserved among poliovirus strains. Results. Sequence analyses produced a set of consensus epitopic peptides potentially able to generate specific anti-polio immune responses exempt from cross-reactivity with the human host. Conclusion. Peptide sequences unique to poliovirus proteins and conserved among polio strains might help formulate a specific and universal anti-polio vaccine able to react with multiple viral strains and exempt from the burden of possible cross-reactions with human proteins. As an additional advantage, using a peptide-based vaccine instead of current anti-polio DNA vaccines would eliminate the rare post-polio poliomyelitis cases and other disabling symptoms that may appear following vaccination.

Minimal immune determinants connect Zika virus, human Cytomegalovirus, and Toxoplasma gondii to microcephaly‐related human proteins

“…On the whole, the present data (i) further demonstrate that an unexpected number of minimal immune peptide determinants recur among fetopathogens and human proteins related to brain alterations; (ii) suggest that a ZIKV‐triggered cross‐reactivity burden might weigh most heavily on fetal neurodevelopment; and (iii) strengthen the recommendation that immunotherapies should be based on the principle of peptide uniqueness, ie, on peptides uniquely present in the antigen of interest and absent in the human proteome …”

Peptide Vaccines: New Trends for Avoiding the Autoimmune Response

“…The seven potentially immunogenic unique peptide sequences had the same level of conservativeness in PV2 derived strains (data not shown). Such new vaccine formulations and renewed research efforts might help to fight the PV infection if needed in future [101]. Theoretically, the viral consensus epitope peptides appear to be ideal tools to generate anti-PV immune responses promising of high specificity, thus avoiding serological cross-reactivity between human polyomaviruses, as well as possible cross-reactions with the human host.…”

Hydrophilicity of Linear B-Epitopes

“…Plasmodium Falciparum, Human Polio Virus [43][44], Sabin Strain, Meningitis [46], Plasmodium Vivax [47] and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis [45].…”