Immunoinformatic profiling of parvovirus B19 VP1/VP2 epitopes: relevance to surgical transfusion safety-research letter.

Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a clinically significant pathogen known for its resistance to conventional inactivation methods in blood products, posing a serious risk for transfusion-related transmission particularly in surgical settings and among immunocompromised or pregnant patients. This study employed immunoinformatics tools to identify highly conserved and immunogenic MHC class I and II epitopes from the VP1 and VP2 capsid proteins, aiming to support the development of targeted immune-based strategies for B19V control. Five MHC class I epitopes and seven class II epitopes were identified, many of which were located within the VP1-unique (VP1u) region, a critical site for viral entry and immune activation. All selected epitopes demonstrated strong antigenicity, non-toxicity, and broad sequence conservation across viral strains, with capacity to elicit robust CD8 + and Th2 responses without inducing IL-10-mediated suppression. These findings provide a foundation for translational research into diagnostic and immune-modulating applications relevant to transfusion safety and perioperative care.