HMPV-TherResDB: Comprehensive Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) Database for Sequence-Structure Annotations, Vaccine Resources, and Therapeutics Research

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a current escalating health issue, causes respiratory complications in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. To date, no specific treatment is available; thus, to support vaccine and therapeutic development, we present HMPV-TherRes: a specialized database for HMPV research. This platform integrates a wealth of genomic, proteomic, structural, and immunological data, as well as target-specific drugs, RNA-based therapeutics, and CRISPR-based designs, offering an invaluable resource for advancing both basic and clinical research. The database integrates data generated through state-of-the-art and AI-powered algorithms. The database hosts 618 annotated genomes from various parts of the world, along with protein information, including their physicochemical properties, and experimentally derived or AlphaFold-predicted 3D structures. Moreover, immune resources are a central feature, encompassing detailed information on the predicted and experimentally reported cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes, helper T lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes (IFN ±), and B-cell epitopes. Additionally, it includes curated datasets, multi-epitope vaccines, and mRNA-based vaccine candidates, underscoring its utility in vaccine design and development. The database also provides data on different drugs targeting hMPV, along with extensive RNA-therapeutic resources, such as siRNAs and miRNAs, which are instrumental in gene-silencing applications. Further expanding its scope, HMPV-TherRes includes CRISPR-based sgRNA designs for both Cas9 and Cas13, enabling targeted genome editing and regulation of the transcriptome. HMPV-TherRes is a versatile repository bridging experimental and computational studies, consolidating diverse resources to support vaccine design, RNA therapeutics, and drug development. It advances understanding of hMPV biology, accelerating efforts to combat the pathogen. This centralized, user-friendly platform represents a significant advancement in virology, enabling researchers to develop novel interventions against HMPV. The database can be accessed through: https://ddd.agounikhanlabs.com/hmpvetherpresdb/index.php.