EpiCC Analysis: Predicting Immunogenicity of Vaccines
T cell Epitope Content Comparison – EpiCC
EpiCC (Epitope Content Comparison) is a proprietary in silico tool used to assess the relatedness of T cell epitopes contained in two or more protein sequences and renders results as an EpiCC score. Typically, the input sequences include a vaccine sequence and field strain virus sequences, and the EpiCC score quantifies the relatedness of the putative epitope content shared between them.
EpiVax researchers initially hypothesized (and subsequently validated) that higher epitope conservation between a vaccine sequence and field strain sequence leads to increased vaccine efficacy.
Watch the latest EpiCC presentation!
Computational Immunologist Andres Gutierrez presents at CRWAD 2021
How does it work?
EpiCC analysis steps. Figure adapted from Swan T et al., Vaccines (Basel), 9 May 2021
EpiCC allows researchers to:
EpiCC was initially developed for application in EpiVax’s animal health research, as the first generation of the tool was implemented to investigate Swine Influenza A virus and Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) outbreaks on pig farms.
While animal health is still a major focus, EpiCC has been further developed to have a broader application across the vaccine industry, as it is now enhanced to assess human vaccine epitope content. The tool, which is utilized regularly by both academic and industry researchers, can be a critical differentiator to developing effective, long-lasting, targeted vaccines for humans and swine . EpiCC is available on a fee-for-service basis, as well as collaborative research opportunities for publication/joint development.
EpiCC is very popular in the animal health world too! Our researchers and clients are tackling African Swine Fever (ASF), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Swine Influenza A, PCV2, and many other swine diseases.
Interested in incorporating EpiCC into your vaccine research? Get in touch!
Recent EpiCC Publications:
- CircoMatch: An online tool for prediction of PCV2 vaccine efficacy based on T cell Epitope Content Comparison – 2022 – Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease
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A bivalent porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), PCV2a-PCV2b, vaccine offers biologically superior protection compared to monovalent PCV2 vaccines – 2022 – Veterinary Research
- T‐cell epitope content comparison (EpiCC) of swine H1 influenza A virus hemagglutinin – Gutiérrez – 2017 – Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses – Wiley Online Library
- T cell epitope content comparison (EpiCC) analysis demonstrates a bivalent PCV2 vaccine has greater T cell epitope overlap with field strains than monovalent PCV2 vaccines – ScienceDirect
- Immune escape and immune camouflage may reduce the efficacy of RTS,S vaccine in Malawi
- New Immunoinformatics Tools for Swine: Designing Epitope-Driven Vaccines, Predicting Vaccine Efficacy, and Making Vaccines on Demand