en پیش‌بینی بیوانفورماتیک اپی‌توپ‌های بالقوه ایمنی‌زا برای پروتئین‌های راپتری آیمریا تنلا به عنوان هدف واکسن کاندید انگل شناسي Parasitology پژوهشي Research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:#2f5496">Background & Objective:</span></u></b> Avian coccidiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus <em>Eimeria</em>, imposes substantial economic losses on the global poultry industry. Rhoptry proteins (ROPs), as critical virulence determinants involved in host cell invasion, represent promising targets for vaccine development. This in silico study was designed to conduct a comprehensive immunoinformatic characterization of six key <em>E. tenella</em> ROPs in order to identify and prioritize potent T-cell and B-cell epitopes for rational vaccine design.</span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:#2f5496">Material & Methods:</span></u></b><u> </u>The physicochemical properties, antigenicity, allergenicity, solubility, and post-translational modification (PTM) sites of the six ROPs were systematically predicted using a suite of validated web-based tools. Secondary and tertiary structures were modeled, followed by rigorous refinement and validation procedures. Subsequently, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and helper T-lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes were predicted using human HLA allele surrogates. Their immunogenic potential, including the capacity to induce IFN-&gamma; and IL-4 responses, was thoroughly evaluated. Linear B-cell epitopes were then identified and screened based on antigenicity, non-allergenicity, and optimal solubility profiles.</span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:#2f5496">Results:</span></u></b> The findings demonstrated that all selected ROPs are antigenic, non-allergenic, and predominantly hydrophilic, with several exhibiting favorable solubility characteristics. Diverse PTM sites were identified, suggesting complex post-translational regulation. A repertoire of high-affinity and immunogenic CTL and HTL epitopes was detected, among which several candidates showed the potential to induce both IFN-&gamma; (Th1) and IL-4 (Th2) responses, indicative of balanced immune activation. In addition, multiple linear B-cell epitopes with high antigenicity scores were identified.</span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:#2f5496">Conclusion:</span></u></b> This study presents the first comprehensive bioinformatic blueprint of six <em>E. tenella</em> ROPs and highlights a rich pool of immunogenic epitopes for subsequent experimental validation and vaccine development.</span></span></div> <br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:normal"><span sans-serif="" style="font-family:Calibri,"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""></span></span></b></span></span></span> Eimeria tenella, rhoptry proteins, vaccine design, bioinformatics, in silico prediction 0 0 http://jabs.fums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-3528-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Nastaran Paknejad نسترن پاک نژاد n.paknejad@shahed.ac.ir 100319475328460030629 100319475328460030629 No Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran Ali Dalir Ghaffari علی دلیر غفاری a.dalirghafari@shahed.ac.ir 100319475328460030630 100319475328460030630 Yes Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran Mahdi Khadem Mohammadi مهدی خادم محمدی mahdi1383.chemistry@gmail.com 100319475328460030631 0009-0008-8195-301X No Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran