Strategies for developing multi-epitope subunit vaccines against tick-borne protozoa and bacteria.

Multi-epitope subunit vaccines show promise against tick-borne pathogens but require rigorous in vivo validation.

This review examines multi-epitope subunit vaccine development against tick-borne pathogens affecting livestock and human health. The article synthesizes advances in immunoinformatics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, and proteomics that have enabled identification of immunogenic proteins and epitopes in protozoan pathogens (Theileria, Babesia) and bacterial pathogens (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Borrelia burgdorferi, Rickettsia prowazekii, Coxiella burnetii). Modern vaccine design strategies integrate epitope mapping with molecular docking and stability prediction analyses to enhance efficacy. Complementary approaches utilizing lipid nanoparticles and immunological adjuvants show promise for improving immune responses. However, significant challenges persist in translating computational predictions into demonstrable in vivo protection, conducting rigorous experimental validation, and establishing mid- to long-term safety profiles. The review provides veterinary professionals with comprehensive insights into current multi-epitope vaccine development methodologies while identifying critical knowledge gaps requiring further investigation before field application.

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