Abstract
Vaccinations can serve as an important preventive measure against the porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus that currently threatens the swine industry. This study focuses on the development of a fusion protein vaccine, FliC(99)-mCOE, which combines the N-terminus of flagellin (FliC(99)) with a modified core neutralizing epitope (mCOE) of PEDV. In silico immunoinformatic analysis confirmed the construct's non-toxic, non-allergenic, and highly antigenic nature. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrated FliC(99)-mCOE's strong binding to the TLR-5 immunological receptor. Repeated exposure simulations and immunological simulations suggested enhanced cell-mediated immunity. Both FliC(99)-mCOE and an inactivated PEDV vaccine were produced and tested in mice. The results from cell proliferation, ELISA, and neutralization assays indicated that FliC(99)-mCOE effectively stimulated cellular immunity and neutralized PEDV. We conclude that the FliC(99)-mCOE fusion protein may serve as a promising vaccine candidate against PEDV.