Generation of Optimized Consensus Sequences for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Envelope  2 Glycoprotein (E2) by a Modified Algorithm: Implication for a Pan-genomic HCV Vaccine

Reyhaneh  Mohabati; Reza  Rezaei; Nasir  Mohajel; Mohammad Mehdi  Ranjbar; Katayoun  Samimi-Rad; Kayhan  Azadmanesh; Farzin  Roohvand

doi:10.18502/ajmb.v16i4.16743

Reyhaneh Mohabati Department of Molecular Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Reza Rezaei School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Nasir Mohajel Department of Molecular Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Mehdi Ranjbar Department of FMD Vaccine Production, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
Katayoun Samimi-Rad Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Kayhan Azadmanesh Department of Molecular Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Farzin Roohvand Department of Molecular Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ajmb.v16i4.16743

Keywords: Amino acids, Antibodies, Antiviral agents, Consensus sequence, Genomics, Genotype, Hepaci-virus, Hepatitis C, Inventions, Phylogeny, Vaccines, Virus diseases

Abstract

Background: Despite the success of "direct-acting antivirals" in treating Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, invention of a preventive HCV vaccine is crucial for global elimination of the virus. Recent data indicated the importance of the induction of Pan-genomic neutralizing Antibodies (PnAbs) against heterogenic HCV Envelope 2(E2), the cellular receptor binding antigen, by any HCV vaccine candidate. To overcome HCVE2 heterogeneity, "generation of consensus HCVE2 sequences" is proposed. However, Consensus Sequence (CS) generating algorithms such as "Threshold" and "Majority" have certain limitations including "Threshold-rigidity" which leads to induction of undefined residues and insensitivity of the "Majority" towards the "evolutionary cost of residual substitutions".

Methods: Herein, first a modification to the "Majority" algorithm was introduced by incorporating BLOSUM matrices. Secondly, the HCVE2 sequences generated by the "Fitness" algorithm (using 1698 sequences from genotypes 1, 2, and 3) was compared with those generated by the "Majority" and "Threshold" algorithms using several in silico tools.

Results: Results indicated that only "Fitness" provided completely defined, gapless HCVE2s for all genotypes/subtypes, while considered the evolutionary cost of amino acid replacements (main "Majority/Threshold" limitations) by substitution of several residues within the generated consensuses. Moreover, "Fitness-generated HCVE2 CSs" were superior for antigenic/immunogenic characteristics as an antigen, while their positions within the phylogenetic trees were still preserved.

Conclusion: "Fitness" algorithm is capable of generating superior/optimum HCVE2 CSs for inclusion in a pan-genomic HCV vaccine and can be similarly used in CS generation for other highly variable antigens from other heterogenic pathogens.