DESAIN VAKSIN MULTI-EPITOPE MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS MELALUI PENDEKATAN REVERSE VACCINOLOGY

• Main Author: Nur Ainina, Fadia
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/57933
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is responsible for thousands of mortality in Indonesia annually. On the other hand, BCG remains the only commercial vaccine for tuberculosis (TB), with different efficacies (0-80%) towards adults. Therefore, an alternative vaccine is currently necessary. This research objective is to construct a multi-epitope-based vaccine that is protective towards the Indonesian population using MmpL as the antigen through a reverse vaccinology approach. The research method starts with MmpL protein sequences retrieval, whose epitopes will be predicted and selected using several parameters, including toxicity and allergenicity. Then, CTL and HTL epitopes predictions are conducted based on Indonesian population-specific HLA. Next, we performed the population coverage analysis, the physicochemical characteristics, structural analysis of the vaccine, and molecular docking. Finally, we did the codon optimization and in silico cloning in the plasmid pET28a(+). We found eight epitopes, covering 85.15% Indonesian population, with a Z-score of -4.98, and the significant residues of TLR4 such as Arg382 and Arg447, interact with the epitope. The Gibbs free energy from the docking result is - 9.1 kcal/mol, meaning that these bonds could be spontaneously formed energetically. Hopefully, the vaccine candidate can protect the Indonesian population and induce cellular, humoral, and cascade immune response from TLR4 against Mtb. Furthermore, the efficacy of the vaccine in inducing immune response will be investigated through wet-lab research.