Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42420440›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Integrative immunoinformatics and structural modeling for the rational design of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate against human cytomegalovirus.

Owona Pascal Emmanuel, Mengue Ngadena Yolande Sandrine, Bilanda Danielle Claude, Akingbolabo Daniel Ogunlakin, Bidingha A Goudani Ronald, Dzeufiet Djomeni Paul Desire, Tariq Aziz, Maha A Aljumaa, Shaza N Alkhatib, Hanan Abdulrahman Sagini

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Owona Pascal EmmanuelDepartment of Animal Biology and Physiology Labortaoty of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Mengue Ngadena Yolande SandrineDepartment of Animal Biology and Physiology Labortaoty of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon. yolande.mengue@univ-yaounde1.cm.
Bilanda Danielle ClaudeDepartment of Animal Biology and Physiology Labortaoty of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Akingbolabo Daniel OgunlakinPhytomedicine and Drug Discovery Research Labortoary (PDD-RL), Biochemistry Programme, Bowen Univeristy, Iwo, 232101, Nigeria.
Bidingha A Goudani RonaldDepartment of Animal Biology and Physiology Labortaoty of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Dzeufiet Djomeni Paul DesireDepartment of Animal Biology and Physiology Labortaoty of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Tariq AzizBiodiversity Genomics Unit, University of Tabuk, 71491, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. tariqckd@ut.edu.sa.
Maha A AljumaaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
Shaza N AlkhatibDepartment of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences and Arts Khulais, University of Jeddah, 21959, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Hanan Abdulrahman SaginiDepartment of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences and Arts Khulais, University of Jeddah, 21959, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University PNURSP2026R456
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a globally widespread pathogen associated with significant morbidity in immunocompromised individuals. Despite its clinical importance, no licensed vaccine is currently available. This study aimed to design a rational multi-epitope vaccine candidate targeting CMV using an integrative approach combining immunoinformatics and structural biology. Viral proteins were screened to identify epitopes with high affinity for B cells, cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), and helper T cells (HTLs) using the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB). Selected epitopes were filtered according to their antigenicity and toxicity and then assembled into a chimeric construct incorporating an immunostimulatory adjuvant. The designed vaccine was evaluated for its physicochemical properties, validated by Ramchandran and ERRAT analyses. Molecular modeling demonstrated strong and stable interactions with key innate immunity receptors, including TLR7 and TLR9, interactions confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. In silico immune simulation predicted a robust and durable immune response, characterized by high levels of IgM and IgG, as well as significant activation of CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocytes and innate immunity components. These results highlight the potential of the proposed multi-epitope construct as a promising vaccine candidate against HCMV. However, experimental validation is essential to confirm its immunogenicity, safety, and translational applicability.

Indexed as

CytomegalovirusCytomegalovirus InfectionsCytomegalovirus VaccinesEpitopesEpitopes, B-LymphocyteEpitopes, T-LymphocyteHumansImmunoinformaticsModels, MolecularMolecular Dynamics SimulationProtein Subunit VaccinesT-Lymphocytes, CytotoxicT-Lymphocytes, Helper-InducerToll-Like Receptor 7Toll-Like Receptor 9Viral ProteinsCytomegalovirus VaccinesEpitopesEpitopes, B-LymphocyteEpitopes, T-LymphocyteProtein Subunit VaccinesTLR7 protein, humanTLR9 protein, humanToll-Like Receptor 7Toll-Like Receptor 9Viral ProteinsDynamic simulationGlycoprotein BHuman cytomegalovirusImmune simulationImmunoinformaticsMultiepitope vaccine

Identifiers

PMID42420440
PMCPMC13376409

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.