1. Phylogeny-aware linear B-cell epitope predictor detects targets associated with immune response to orthopoxviruses.
- Author
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Campelo F, de Oliveira ALG, Reis-Cunha J, Fraga VG, Bastos PH, Ashford J, Ekárt A, Adelino TER, Silva MVF, de Melo Iani FC, de Jesus ACP, Bartholomeu DC, de Souza Trindade G, Fujiwara RT, Bueno LL, and Lobo FP
- Subjects
- Humans, Orthopoxvirus immunology, Orthopoxvirus genetics, Computational Biology methods, Vaccinia virus immunology, Vaccinia virus genetics, Phylogeny, Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte immunology
- Abstract
We introduce a phylogeny-aware framework for predicting linear B-cell epitope (LBCE)-containing regions within proteins. Our approach leverages evolutionary information by using a taxonomic scaffold to build models trained on hierarchically structured data. The resulting models present performance equivalent or superior to generalist methods, despite using simpler features and a fraction of the data volume required by current state-of-the-art predictors. This allows the utilization of available data for major pathogen lineages to facilitate the prediction of LBCEs for emerging infectious agents. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach by predicting new LBCEs in the monkeypox (MPXV) and vaccinia viruses. Experimental validation of selected targets using sera from infected patients confirms the presence of LBCEs, including candidates for the differential serodiagnosis of recent MPXV infections. These results point to the use of phylogeny-aware predictors as a useful strategy to facilitate the targeted development of immunodiagnostic tools., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)
- Published
- 2024
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