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Preliminary Identification of Potential Vaccine Targets for the COVID-19 Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Based on SARS-CoV
Syed Faraz Ahmed1, Ahmed A Quadeer1, Matthew R McKay1,2
1Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract:
The beginning of 2020 has seen the emergence of COVID-19 outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is an imminent need to better understand this new virus and to develop ways to control its spread. In this study, we sought to gain insights for vaccine design against SARS-CoV-2 by considering the high genetic similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, which caused the outbreak in 2003, and leveraging existing immunological studies of SARS-CoV. By screening the experimentally-determined SARS-CoV-derived B cell and T cell epitopes in the immunogenic structural proteins of SARS-CoV, we identified a set of B cell and T cell epitopes derived from the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins that map identically to SARS-CoV-2 proteins. As no mutation has been observed in these identified epitopes among the 120 available SARS-CoV-2 sequences (as of 21 February 2020), immune targeting of these epitopes may potentially offer protection against this novel virus. For the T cell epitopes, we performed a population coverage analysis of the associated MHC alleles and proposed a set of epitopes that is estimated to provide broad coverage globally, as well as in China. Our findings provide a screened set of epitopes that can help guide experimental efforts towards the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
Insights
Researchers identified conserved B cell and T cell epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins, offering potential targets for effective vaccine development against COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Vaccine Development
Background:
- The emergence of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 necessitates understanding its biology for control.
- High genetic similarity exists between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV (2003 outbreak).
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential vaccine targets against SARS-CoV-2.
- To leverage immunological data from SARS-CoV for vaccine design.
Main Methods:
- Screening of SARS-CoV-derived B cell and T cell epitopes.
- Mapping of epitopes to immunogenic structural proteins (Spike and Nucleocapsid).
- Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequences for epitope conservation.
- Population coverage analysis for T cell epitopes based on MHC alleles.
Main Results:
- Identified conserved B cell and T cell epitopes shared between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.
- These epitopes map to the Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins.
- No mutations were observed in these epitopes across 120 SARS-CoV-2 sequences (as of Feb 21, 2020).
- Proposed T cell epitopes with estimated broad global and China-specific population coverage.
Conclusions:
- Conserved epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins are promising targets for vaccine development.
- These findings can guide experimental vaccine design strategies against SARS-CoV-2.
- Targeting conserved epitopes may confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
