Mapping of HLA-A specific MHC Class I CTL epitopes of Zika virus: An immunoinformatics-based study

Aim/Background: The Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is a major public health concern because of its link to neurological diseases and congenital Zika syndrome. Establishing an efficient vaccination remains the global priority. This study employs immunoinformatics-based techniques to identify HLA-A specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes from ZIKV proteins that can elicit a robust CD8+ T-cell immune response. Methodology: The ZIKV CTL epitopes were computationally mapped to HLA-A*01:01, HLA-A*02:01, HLA-A*03:01, HLA-A*24:02 and HLA-A*26:01 alleles, which are prevalent in diverse human populations (analyzed on Jan, 2025). The binding energies of the screened epitopes were analyzed using molecular docking simulation and the interactions made between predicted epitopes and HLA-A alleles were analyzed. Results: MHC class I binding affinity predictions, molecular docking assessments, and epitope steadiness evaluations indicated strong interactions regulated by hydrogen bonding, electrostatics, and hydrophobic interactions, resulting in effective antigen presentation. In the HLA-A*01:01 the higher binding affinity of predicted epitope was with MSALEFYSY (-8.8 kcal/mol) and with HLA-A*26:01 the higher binding was with QVASAGITY (-7.9 kcal/mol). Notably, ZIKV CTL epitopes predicted (EITRRGSAY, ETRCGTGVF, MSALEFYSY, NTTSTWVVY, and QVASAGITY) in the study were selected to minimize immune evasion due to their conserved nature. Conclusion: These findings support the potential of these CTL epitopes for inclusion in peptide-based vaccine platforms, offering a targeted approach for Zika virus-specific cellular immunity.