Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology

Utsha Roy Chowdhury; Al Mahmud; Md. Ekhlas Uddin; Most. Jannatul Ferdous Jami; Ashik Hasan Apu; Tasnim Riduan Khan Rizve; Anik Halder; Bijly Khatun; Saima Rasel Tithi

doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

J Biol Res Rev. 2026; 3(3): 72-111

doi: 10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology

Utsha Roy Chowdhury, Al Mahmud, Md. Ekhlas Uddin, Most. Jannatul Ferdous Jami, Ashik Hasan Apu, Tasnim Riduan Khan Rizve, Anik Halder, Bijly Khatun, Saima Rasel Tithi.

Abstract
Aim: The Marburg virus (MARV), a zoonotic pathogen, causes a severe hemorrhagic fever for which no approved vaccine currently exists.
Methods: This study used reverse vaccinology to develop a multi-epitope vaccine against Marburg virus (MARV). To improve stability and translational efficiency, the construct was modified as an mRNA vaccine by adding a 5′ cap, 5′ UTR, Kozak sequence, tPA signal peptide, 3′ UTR, and poly(A) tail.
Results: We selected the potential 06 CTL, 06 HTL, and 04 LBL epitopes with high antigenicity, no allergenicity, and no toxicity, and the epitopes were linked with the linkers (GPGPG, AAY, KK) and an adjuvant (β-defensin 2). The designed vaccine showed an antigenic score of 0.7189 with promising properties. Molecular docking reveals that the vaccine exhibits a strong binding affinity with human TLR4 (-1301.5 kcal/mol). Meanwhile, MD simulation confirms its structural stability, and immune simulations indicate robust cellular and humoral immune responses. Ultimately, in silico cloning validated the capacity for effective expression in E. coli. Finally, secondary structure revealed that the mRNA vaccine (-418.59 kcal/mol) was thermodynamically stable. These outcomes may contribute to the development of an experimental MARV vaccine.
Conclusions: However, further experimental evaluation is necessary to assess the efficacy of the modified mRNA vaccine for MARV prevention.

Key words: Marburg Virus, mRNA vaccine, molecular docking, MD simulation, reverse vaccinology

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How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Chowdhury UR, Mahmud A, Uddin ME, Jami MJF, Apu AH, Rizve TRK, Halder A, Khatun B, Tithi SR. Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology. J Biol Res Rev. 2026; 3(3): 72-111. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

Web Style

Chowdhury UR, Mahmud A, Uddin ME, Jami MJF, Apu AH, Rizve TRK, Halder A, Khatun B, Tithi SR. Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology. https://www.wisdomgale.com/jbrr/?mno=310885 [Access: July 27, 2026]. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Chowdhury UR, Mahmud A, Uddin ME, Jami MJF, Apu AH, Rizve TRK, Halder A, Khatun B, Tithi SR. Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology. J Biol Res Rev. 2026; 3(3): 72-111. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Chowdhury UR, Mahmud A, Uddin ME, Jami MJF, Apu AH, Rizve TRK, Halder A, Khatun B, Tithi SR. Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology. J Biol Res Rev. (2026), [cited July 27, 2026]; 3(3): 72-111. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

Harvard Style

Chowdhury, U. R., Mahmud, . A., Uddin, . M. E., Jami, . M. J. F., Apu, . A. H., Rizve, . T. R. K., Halder, . A., Khatun, . B. & Tithi, . S. R. (2026) Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology. J Biol Res Rev, 3 (3), 72-111. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

Turabian Style

Chowdhury, Utsha Roy, Al Mahmud, Md. Ekhlas Uddin, Most. Jannatul Ferdous Jami, Ashik Hasan Apu, Tasnim Riduan Khan Rizve, Anik Halder, Bijly Khatun, and Saima Rasel Tithi. 2026. Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology. Journal of Biological Research and Reviews, 3 (3), 72-111. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

Chicago Style

Chowdhury, Utsha Roy, Al Mahmud, Md. Ekhlas Uddin, Most. Jannatul Ferdous Jami, Ashik Hasan Apu, Tasnim Riduan Khan Rizve, Anik Halder, Bijly Khatun, and Saima Rasel Tithi. "Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology." Journal of Biological Research and Reviews 3 (2026), 72-111. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Chowdhury, Utsha Roy, Al Mahmud, Md. Ekhlas Uddin, Most. Jannatul Ferdous Jami, Ashik Hasan Apu, Tasnim Riduan Khan Rizve, Anik Halder, Bijly Khatun, and Saima Rasel Tithi. "Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology." Journal of Biological Research and Reviews 3.3 (2026), 72-111. Print. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Chowdhury, U. R., Mahmud, . A., Uddin, . M. E., Jami, . M. J. F., Apu, . A. H., Rizve, . T. R. K., Halder, . A., Khatun, . B. & Tithi, . S. R. (2026) Design of a Novel Multi-Epitope mRNA Vaccine against Marburg Virus using Reverse Vaccinology. Journal of Biological Research and Reviews, 3 (3), 72-111. doi:10.5455/JBRR.20260217032857