From Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Immune Responses to COVID-19 via Molecular Mimicry

To define the autoimmune potential of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Experimentally validated epitopes cataloged at the Immune Epitope DataBase (IEDB) and present in SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed for peptide sharing with the human proteome.

Immunoreactive epitopes present in SARS-CoV-2 were mostly composed of peptide sequences present in human proteins that-when altered, mutated, deficient or, however, improperly functioning-may associate with a wide range of disorders, from respiratory distress to multiple organ failure.

This study represents a starting point or hint for future scientific-clinical investigations and suggests a range of possible protein targets of autoimmunity in SARS-CoV-2 infection. From an experimental perspective, the results warrant the testing of patients' sera for autoantibodies against these protein targets. Clinically, the results warrant a stringent surveillance on the future pathologic sequelae of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.