en Bioinformatic Bioinformatic Original Article Original Article <p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Neisseria meningitidis</em> is a facultative pathogen bacterium which is well founded with a number of adhesion molecules to facilitate its colonization in human nasopharynx track. <em>Neisseria meningitidis</em> is a major cause of mortality from sever meningococcal disease and septicemia. The <em>Neisseria meningitidis</em> adhesion, NadA, is a trimeric autotransporter adhesion molecule which is involved in cell adhesion, invasion, and antibody induction. It is identified in approximately 50% of <em>N. meningitidis</em> isolates, and is established as a vaccine candidate due to its antigenic effects. In the present study we exploited bioinformatics tools to better understand and determine the 3D structure of NadA and its functional residues to select B cell epitopes, and provide information for elucidating the biological function and vaccine efficacy of NadA. Therefore, this study provided essential data to close gaps existing in biological areas. The most appropriate model of NadA was designed by SWISS MODEL software and important residues were determined using the subsequent epitope mapping procedures. Locations of important linear and conformational epitopes were determined and conserved residues were identified to broaden our knowledge of efficient vaccine designing to reduce meningococcal infectious in population. These data now provide a theme to design more broadly cross-protective antigens.</p> Neisseria meningitidis, NadA, epitope prediction, 3D structure 53 68 http://ijmcmed.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1207-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Narjes Shahsavani narjesshahsavani@gmail.com 100319475328460011403 100319475328460011403 No Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran. Mohammad Hasan Sheikhha sheikhha@ssu.ac.ir 100319475328460011404 100319475328460011404 No Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran. Hasan Yousefi Hassanmbi@yahoo.com 100319475328460011405 100319475328460011405 No Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Fatemeh Sefid sefid@shahed.ac.ir 100319475328460011406 100319475328460011406 Yes Department of Biology, Science and Art University, Yazd, Iran.