# TCEPVDB: Artificial Intelligence-Based Proteome-Wide Screening of Antigens and Linear T-Cell Epitopes in the Poxviruses and the Development of a Repository

## TL;DR

This paper introduces TCEPVDB, a database of predicted antigens and T-cell epitopes in poxviruses using AI, aiding vaccine development.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the creation of a user-friendly, open-access repository of AI-predicted antigens and epitopes for poxviruses.

## Key findings

- 3966 potential antigenic proteins were predicted across 37 poxviruses.
- A repository of 54,291 linear T-cell epitopes was developed for poxvirus vaccine research.
- TCEPVDB is freely accessible and open-source for public use.

## Abstract

Background: Poxviruses constitute a family of large dsDNA viruses that can infect a plethora of species including humans. Historically, poxviruses have caused a health burden in multiple outbreaks. The large genome of poxviruses favors reverse vaccinology approaches that can determine potential antigens and epitopes. Here, we propose the modeling of a user-friendly database containing the predicted antigens and epitopes of a large cohort of poxvirus proteomes using the existing PoxiPred method for reverse vaccinology of poxviruses. Methods: In the present study, we obtained the whole proteomes of as many as 37 distinct poxviruses. We utilized each proteome to predict both antigenic proteins and T-cell epitopes of poxviruses with the aid of an Artificial Intelligence method, namely the PoxiPred method. Results: In total, we predicted 3966 proteins as potential antigen targets. Of note, we considered that this protein may exist in a set of proteoforms. Subsets of these proteins constituted a comprehensive repository of 54,291 linear T-cell epitopes. We combined the outcome of the predictions in the format of a web tool that delivers a database of antigens and epitopes of poxviruses. We also developed a comprehensive repository dedicated to providing access to end-users to obtain AI-based screened antigens and T-cell epitopes of poxviruses in a user-friendly manner. These antigens and epitopes can be utilized to design experiments for the development of effective vaccines against a plethora of poxviruses. Conclusions: The TCEPVDB repository, already deployed to the web under an open-source coding philosophy, is free to use, does not require any login, does not store any information from its users.