Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 23 4 2024 07 27 Immunization of BALB/c Mice against Shigella sonnei Using a Multiepitope Protein Vaccine through Intranasal and Subcutaneous Administration 412 421 Shabnam Akhgar Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran Shamsi Noorpisheh Ghadimi Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Allied Medicine Sciences, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran Ibrahim Farhani Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran Abdolmajid Ghasemian Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran Shirin Mahmoodi Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran Mehdi mardkhoshnood Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran Ali Zarenezhad Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran 2023 12 06 2024 04 07 As the most common cause of bacillary dysentery or shigellosis, Shigella sonnei (S nonnei) has spread throughout the world. Invasion of the colorectal epithelial cells by this facultative intracellular bacterium occurs via various virulence factors. The increase in the resistance rate highlights the need for novel interventions, particularly increasing the urgency of the development of Shigella vaccines that may offer an effective solution. A multiepitope protein vaccine (MEPV) construct previously designed using bioinformatics tools against Shigella species, was applied in vivo in BALB/C mice. The designed vaccine construct was expressed in a bacterial host, purified, and finally confirmed by Western blot analysis. The immunogenicity of the purified MEPV was assessed against S sonnei via intranasal and subcutaneous administration routes, followed by evaluating its protective efficiency. We observed that interferon-gamma, interleukin-4, and immunoglobulin G levels were increased in all experimental groups. Therefore, The MEPV effectively protected the mice against S sonnei. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/3966 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/3966/2085