Development of a multi-epitope vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using an immunoinformatics approach

Abstract Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), a highly lethal pathogen, faces exacerbated threats from drug-resistant strains. Given the limited efficacy of the licensed BCG vaccine against adult pulmonary TB and latent infection reactivation, novel vaccines are imperative. This study designed an immunoinformatics-driven multi-epitope vaccine by screening target proteins for B-cell, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL), and helper T-lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes, fused with RpfE adjuvant. The construct demonstrated antigenicity, solubility, and non-allergenicity in physicochemical analyses. Molecular docking, dynamics simulations, and immune modeling predicted robust immune responses, while in silico cloning confirmed feasibility. Though promising as a TB vaccine candidate, in vivo validation of protective efficacy remains essential.