| خلاصه مقاله | Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) inhabits the upper respiratory tract but can cause various infectious diseases (1). While current Hib vaccines curb Hib-related diseases, the rise of non-b serotypes or NTHi poses challenges (2). Considering waning antibiotic efficacy, custom vaccines may offer better protection against both Hib and NTHi. In this study, we analyzed an RNA-seq dataset (GSE63900) from the NCBI GEO database (3) to identify important antigens in the host-pathogen interaction (HPI) based on adjusted P-value < 0.01 and |log2 FC| > 2. Then, we constructed a protein-protein interactions (PPIs) network of Hi strain ATCC 51907 using STRING database and Cytoscape v3.10.1, analyzing network local and global centralities and modules like CytoHubba and MCODE. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses helped pinpoint crucial vaccine target antigens. According to the RNA-seq analysis, in the human bronchial epithelial cells, a total of 1,423 genes exhibited significant differential expression in response to Hi infection. On the bacterial side, 1,068 genes of Hi were identified as differentially regulated, with both positive and negative regulation observed. Of these, a core set of 151 transcripts in Hi were consistently differentially expressed across all time points of infection. Identified from PPI network and transcriptome analyses, key genes (i.e., hxuA, bamA, lpoA, oapA, ppdD, and lolB) were chosen as vaccine targets based on their antigenicity/allergenicity profile, cellular localization, and lack of homology with Homo sapiens. By elucidating crucial genes involved in HPI and using a proteome-wide PPI network analysis, our findings offer insights for targeted vaccine development, enhancing strategies against Hi. |