Immunogenicity of multi-epitope transmission-blocking vaccine candidates based on Aedes mosquito saliva proteins

From January 2022 to August 2024, a total of 45,652 cases and 1492 deaths were reported in 12 African countries. The Mpox outbreak and the previous COVID-19 pandemic point to the devastating potential of vector-borne viruses. Several arboviruses (including Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika) listed by the WHO as high-priority pathogens are transmitted by the Aedes mosquito that is currently colonizing new regions with a corresponding increase in the global arbovirus transmission rates. Transmission-blocking vaccines targeting vector antigens have been proposed as a novel strategy to control the spread of vector-borne diseases. This work will focus on the development of pre-emptive vaccines geared at pandemic preparedness and response by the rational design of robust and potent multi-epitope vaccines (MEVs) that can block the spread of several Aedes-borne viruses. The designed vaccines will target Aedes salivary gland antigens. Computational tools will be used to predict the appropriate epitopes from selected immunogenic proteins for the design of two chimeric MEV candidates. Vaccine candidate immunogenicity will be tested in mice models as well as human serum samples. The project is expected to deliver to the pandemic preparedness toolbox potent vaccines that can complement current control strategies. Study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.