# A High-Coverage Epitope-Based Vaccine Design for EIAV Envelope Polyprotein Using an Immunoinformatic Approach

## TL;DR

This paper presents a new vaccine design for a horse virus using computer-based methods to identify immune-recognizable parts of the virus.

## Contribution

A novel chimeric envelope protein vaccine candidate for EIAV using epitope-based design and in silico validation.

## Key findings

- Eight epitope regions were identified and combined into a chimeric protein with high coverage of American EIAV strains.
- The designed protein is predicted to be immunogenic and safe, with potential to trigger strong immune responses.
- Molecular docking suggests compatibility with equine immune system components for effective vaccine function.

## Abstract

Equine Infectious Anemia is a disease of horses and related animals that is caused by a virus that remains in the body for life and can lead to weakness, fever, and severe health problems. There is currently no vaccine specially designed to protect animals from the forms of this virus that circulate in the Americas. In this study, we used computer-based methods to search for parts of the virus surface proteins that are most likely to be recognized by the immune system and to stimulate protection. We identified several promising regions and combined them into a single artificial protein to serve as a new vaccine candidate. We then used advanced digital tools to evaluate its safety, stability, and potential to trigger a strong and protective immune response. The results suggest that this designed protein could help develop a new vaccine capable of protecting animals against many virus forms found in the region, which would support animal health, prevent economic losses, and benefit communities that depend on horse-related activities.

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a retroviral disease of equids, for which there is no vaccine particularly adapted to American viral strains. In this work we searched for possible epitope regions for the surface proteins gp90 and gp45, rationally employing the latest available bioinformatics tools that constitute the state of the art in the field. We selected eight regions that contain numerous overlapping epitopes that have a high coverage amongst American viral strains and designed a chimeric envelope protein with those proteins fused in tandem as a novel vaccine candidate. In silico predictors were used to analyze chimeric protein physicochemical and immunogenic properties, as well as its allergenicity and toxicity. Protein structure was predicted and validated, and its ability to trigger cytotoxic immune responses was predicted by molecular docking to ELA alleles. The proposed sequence is predicted to be highly immunogenic and sets the base for a novel EIAV vaccine that could be used to protect against several American field strains.