Predicted 3D model of the M protein of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus and analysis of its immunogenic potential

PLoS One. 2022 Feb 9;17(2):e0263582. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263582. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

The membrane protein M of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) is the most abundant component of the viral envelope. The M protein plays a central role in the morphogenesis and assembly of the virus through protein interactions of the M-M, M-Spike (S) and M-nucleocapsid (N) type. The M protein is known to induce protective antibodies in pigs and to participate in the antagonistic response of the cellular antiviral system coordinated by the type I and type III interferon pathways. The 3D structure of the PEDV M protein is still unknown. The present work exposes a predicted 3D model of the M protein generated using the Robetta protocol. The M protein model is organized into a transmembrane and a globular region. The obtained 3D model of the PEDV M protein was compared with 3D models of the SARS-CoV-2 M protein created using neural networks and with initial machine learning-based models created using trRosetta. The 3D model of the present study predicted four linear B-cell epitopes (RSVNASSGTG and KHGDYSAVSNPSALT peptides are noteworthy), six discontinuous B-cell epitopes, forty weak binding and fourteen strong binding T-cell epitopes in the CV777 M protein. A high degree of conservation of the epitopes predicted in the PEDV M protein was observed among different PEDV strains isolated in different countries. The data suggest that the M protein could be a potential candidate for the development of new treatments or strategies that activate protective cellular mechanisms against viral diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / veterinary
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Coronavirus M Proteins / chemistry*
  • Coronavirus M Proteins / immunology
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / chemistry
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / chemistry
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus / chemistry*
  • Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus / immunology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Swine / virology*
  • Swine Diseases / immunology
  • Swine Diseases / virology*

Substances

  • Coronavirus M Proteins
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte

Grants and funding

Grant number: JFR-B and IH-C (FONSEC SADER-CONACYT 2017-06-292826, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología). NHR-M and IH-C (100429633-VIEP2021, Vice-Rectory for Research and Postgraduate Studies [VIEP]). Alan Rodríguez Enríquez (BUAP: 219470378) was supported by CONACYT (2019-000037-02NACF). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.