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Zhang J, Feng J, Huang Y, Zhou B, Li B, Zhang R. Ginseng Polysaccharide Enhances the Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 RBD Protein Subunit Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1833. [PMID: 38140237 PMCID: PMC10747565 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11121833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic remarkably accelerated vaccine research progress. The role of adjuvants in enhancing vaccine immune intensity and influencing immune types has been considered. Ginseng polysaccharide (GPS) has been demonstrated to have strong immunoregulatory properties. It is important to explore the feasibility of adding GPS to vaccine adjuvant components to improve the immune response effect of RBD vaccines. Here, we prepared a SARS-CoV-2 RBD antigen using the Escherichia coli expression system and determined that subcutaneous administration of GPS at a dose of 40 mg/kg could effectively activate dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (MΦ) in mice. Compared with the RBD group, the RBD+GPS triggered stronger and persistent antibody responses. It is also notable that higher levels of RBD-specific IgG and IgA were distributed in the lungs of RBD+GPS-immunized BALB/c mice. In addition, the RBD+GPS also resulted in lower percentages of IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells and higher percentages of IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells and CD8+ Tcm cells. These results suggest that GPS could be a promising vaccine immuno-enhancer for SARS-CoV-2 RBD subunit vaccines to establish stronger systemic and pulmonary mucosal protective immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Bing Li
- Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (J.Z.); (J.F.); (Y.H.); (B.Z.)
| | - Rongxin Zhang
- Laboratory of Immunology and Inflammation, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China; (J.Z.); (J.F.); (Y.H.); (B.Z.)
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Tai C, Li H, Zhang J. BCEDB: a linear B-cell epitopes database for SARS-CoV-2. Database (Oxford) 2023; 2023:baad065. [PMID: 37776561 PMCID: PMC10541793 DOI: 10.1093/database/baad065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people worldwide and caused millions of deaths. The virus has gone numerous mutations to replicate faster, which can overwhelm the immune system of the host. Linear B-cell epitopes are becoming promising in prevention of various deadly infectious diseases, breaking the general idea of their low immunogenicity and partial protection. However, there is still no public repository to host the linear B-cell epitopes for facilitating the development vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, we developed BCEDB, a linear B-cell epitopes database specifically designed for hosting, exploring and visualizing linear B-cell epitopes and their features. The database provides a comprehensive repository of computationally predicted linear B-cell epitopes from Spike protein; a systematic annotation of epitopes including sequence, antigenicity score, genomic locations of epitopes, mutations in different virus lineages, mutation sites on the 3D structure of Spike protein and a genome browser to visualize them in an interactive manner. It represents a valuable resource for peptide-based vaccine development. Database URL: http://www.oncoimmunobank.cn/bcedbindex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengzheng Tai
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine & School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- Department of Radiology, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Youan Gate Outer Xitou Alley, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Medicine & School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, China
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3
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Ru Y, Hao R, Wu C, Li Y, Lu B, Liu H, Tian H, Li D, Shi Z, Luo J, Ma K, Zhang G, Liu X, Zheng H. Identification of Potential Novel B-Cell Epitopes of Capsid Protein VP2 in Senecavirus A. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0447222. [PMID: 37428080 PMCID: PMC10433816 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04472-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Senecavirus A (SVA) is a type of nonenveloped single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus. The VP2 protein is a structural protein that plays an important role in inducing early and late immune responses of the host. However, its antigenic epitopes have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, defining the B epitopes of the VP2 protein is of great importance to revealing its antigenic characterization. In this study, we analyzed B-cell immunodominant epitopes (IDEs) of the VP2 protein from the SVA strain CH/FJ/2017 using the Pepscan approach and a bioinformatics-based computational prediction method. The following four novel IDEs of VP2 were identified: IDE1, 41TKSDPPSSSTDQPTTT56; IDE2, 145PDGKAKSLQELNEEQW160; IDE3, 161VEMSDDYRTGKNMPF175; and IDE4, 267PYFNGLRNRFTTGT280. Most of the IDEs were highly conserved among the different strains. To our knowledge, the VP2 protein is a major protective antigen of SVA that can induce neutralizing antibodies in animals. Here, we analyzed the immunogenicity and neutralization activity of four IDEs of VP2. Consequently, all four IDEs showed good immunogenicity that could elicit specific antibodies in guinea pigs. A neutralization test in vitro showed that the peptide-specific guinea pig antisera of IDE2 could neutralize SVA strain CH/FJ/2017, and IDE2 was identified as a novel potential neutralizing linear epitope. This is the first time VP2 IDEs have been identified by using the Pepscan method and a bioinformatics-based computational prediction method. These results will help elucidate the antigenic epitopes of VP2 and clarify the basis for immune responses against SVA. IMPORTANCE The clinical symptoms and lesions caused by SVA are indistinguishable from those of other vesicular diseases in pigs. SVA has been associated with recent outbreaks of vesicular disease and epidemic transient neonatal losses in several swine-producing countries. Due to the continuing spread of SVA and the lack of commercial vaccines, the development of improved control strategies is urgently needed. The VP2 protein is a crucial antigen on the capsids of SVA particles. Furthermore, the latest research showed that VP2 could be a promising candidate for the development of novel vaccines and diagnostic tools. Hence, a detailed exploration of epitopes in the VP2 protein is necessary. In this study, four novel B-cell IDEs were identified using two different antisera with two different methods. IDE2 was identified as a new neutralizing linear epitope. Our findings will help in the rational design of epitope vaccines and further understanding of the antigenic structure of VP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ru
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Rongzeng Hao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chunping Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yajun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bingzhou Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Huanan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hong Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhengwang Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Juncong Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kun Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guicai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiangtao Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haixue Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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Abd El-Baky N, Amara AA, Redwan EM. HLA-I and HLA-II Peptidomes of SARS-CoV-2: A Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:548. [PMID: 36992131 PMCID: PMC10058130 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The adaptive (T-cell-mediated) immune response is a key player in determining the clinical outcome, in addition to neutralizing antibodies, after SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as supporting the efficacy of vaccines. T cells recognize viral-derived peptides bound to major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) so that they initiate cell-mediated immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection or can support developing a high-affinity antibody response. SARS-CoV-2-derived peptides bound to MHCs are characterized via bioinformatics or mass spectrometry on the whole proteome scale, named immunopeptidomics. They can identify potential vaccine targets or therapeutic approaches for SARS-CoV-2 or else may reveal the heterogeneity of clinical outcomes. SARS-CoV-2 epitopes that are naturally processed and presented on the human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) and class II (HLA-II) were identified for immunopeptidomics. Most of the identified SARS-CoV-2 epitopes were canonical and out-of-frame peptides derived from spike and nucleocapsid proteins, followed by membrane proteins, whereby many of which are not caught by existing vaccines and could elicit effective responses of T cells in vivo. This review addresses the detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral epitopes on HLA-I and HLA-II using bioinformatics prediction and mass spectrometry (HLA peptidomics). Profiling the HLA-I and HLA-II peptidomes of SARS-CoV-2 is also detailed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawal Abd El-Baky
- Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria P.O. Box 21934, Egypt
| | - Amro A. Amara
- Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria P.O. Box 21934, Egypt
| | - Elrashdy M. Redwan
- Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah P.O. Box 80203, Saudi Arabia
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Rawat SS, Keshri AK, Kaur R, Prasad A. Immunoinformatics Approaches for Vaccine Design: A Fast and Secure Strategy for Successful Vaccine Development. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020221. [PMID: 36851099 PMCID: PMC9959071 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are major contributors to the cost-effective interventions in major infectious diseases in the global public health space [...].
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Parn S, Savsani K, Dakshanamurthy S. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (BA.1 and BA.2) specific novel CD8+ and CD4+ T cell epitopes targeting spike protein. IMMUNOINFORMATICS (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 8:100020. [PMID: 36337685 PMCID: PMC9624113 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuno.2022.100020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The Omicron (BA.1/B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 harbors an alarming 37 mutations on its spike protein, reducing the efficacy of current COVID-19 vaccines. In this study, we identified CD8+ and CD4+ T cell epitopes from SARS-CoV-2 S protein mutants. To identify the highest quality CD8 and CD4 epitopes from the Omicron variant, we selected epitopes with a high binding affinity towards both MHC I and MHC II molecules. We applied other clinical checkpoint predictors, including immunogenicity, antigenicity, allergenicity, instability and toxicity. Subsequently, we found eight Omicron (BA.1/B.1.1.529) specific CD8+ and eleven CD4+ T cell epitopes with a world population coverage of 76.16% and 97.46%, respectively. Additionally, we identified common epitopes across Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 lineages that target mutations critical to SARS-CoV-2 virulence. Further, we identified common epitopes across B.1.1.529 and other circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as B.1.617.2 (Delta). We predicted CD8 epitopes' binding affinity to murine MHC alleles to test the vaccine candidates in preclinical models. The CD8 epitopes were further validated using our previously developed software tool PCOptim. We then modeled the three-dimensional structures of our top CD8 epitopes to investigate the binding interaction between peptide-MHC and peptide-MHC-TCR complexes. Notably, our identified epitopes are targeting the mutations on the RNA-binding domain and the fusion sites of S protein. This could potentially eliminate viral infections and form long-term immune responses compared to relatively short-lived mRNA vaccines and maximize the efficacy of vaccine candidates against the current pandemic and potential future variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Parn
- University of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C, USA
| | - Kush Savsani
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sivanesan Dakshanamurthy
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057 USA
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Salod Z, Mahomed O. Mapping Potential Vaccine Candidates Predicted by VaxiJen for Different Viral Pathogens between 2017-2021-A Scoping Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1785. [PMID: 36366294 PMCID: PMC9695814 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Reverse vaccinology (RV) is a promising alternative to traditional vaccinology. RV focuses on in silico methods to identify antigens or potential vaccine candidates (PVCs) from a pathogen's proteome. Researchers use VaxiJen, the most well-known RV tool, to predict PVCs for various pathogens. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide an overview of PVCs predicted by VaxiJen for different viruses between 2017 and 2021 using Arksey and O'Malley's framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. We used the term 'vaxijen' to search PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and ProQuest One Academic. The protocol was registered at the Open Science Framework (OSF). We identified articles on this topic, charted them, and discussed the key findings. The database searches yielded 1033 articles, of which 275 were eligible. Most studies focused on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), published between 2020 and 2021. Only a few articles (8/275; 2.9%) conducted experimental validations to confirm the predictions as vaccine candidates, with 2.2% (6/275) articles mentioning recombinant protein expression. Researchers commonly targeted parts of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein, with the frequently predicted epitopes as PVCs being major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I T cell epitopes WTAGAAAYY, RQIAPGQTG, IAIVMVTIM, and B cell epitope IAPGQTGKIADY, among others. The findings of this review are promising for the development of novel vaccines. We recommend that vaccinologists use these findings as a guide to performing experimental validation for various viruses, with SARS-CoV-2 as a priority, because better vaccines are needed, especially to stay ahead of the emergence of new variants. If successful, these vaccines could provide broader protection than traditional vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zakia Salod
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4051, South Africa
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8
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Wu L, Li L, Yin X, Li C, Xin W, Liu L, Hua Z. A SARS-CoV-2 oral vaccine development strategy based on the attenuated Salmonella type III secretion system. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:2484-2500. [PMID: 35858677 PMCID: PMC9350170 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to provide a safe, stable and efficient SARS-CoV-2 oral vaccine development strategy based on the type III secretion system of attenuated Salmonella and a reference for the development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. METHODS AND RESULTS The attenuated Salmonella mutant ΔhtrA-VNP was used as a vector to secrete the antigen SARS-CoV-2 based on the type III secretion system (T3SS). The Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2)-encoded T3SS promoter (sifB) was screened to express heterologous antigens (RBD, NTD, S2), and the SPI-2-encoded secretion system (sseJ) was employed to secrete this molecule (psifB-sseJ-antigen, abbreviated BJ-antigen). Both immunoblotting and fluorescence microscopy revealed effective expression and secretion of the antigen into the cytosol of macrophages in vitro. The mixture of the three strains (BJ-RBD/NTD/S2, named AisVax) elicited a marked increase in the induction of IgA or IgG S-protein Abs after oral gavage, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous administration. Flow cytometric analysis proved that AisVax caused T-cell activation, as shown by a significant increase in CD44 and CD69 expression. Significant production of IgA or IgG N-protein Abs was also detected by using psifB-sseJ-N(FL), indicating the universality of this strategy. CONCLUSIONS Delivery of multiple SARS-CoV-2 antigens using the type III secretion system of attenuated Salmonella ΔhtrA-VNP is a potential COVID-19 vaccine strategy. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The attenuated Salmonella strain ΔhtrA-VNP showed excellent performance as a vaccine vector. The Salmonella SPI-2-encoded T3SS showed highly efficient delivery of SARS-COV-2 antigens. Anti-loss elements integrated into the plasmid stabilized the phenotype of the vaccine strain. Mixed administration of antigen-expressing strains improved antibody induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyang Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- Changzhou High‐Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University and Jiangsu TargetPharma Laboratories Inc.ChangzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Lin Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Xingpeng Yin
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Chenyang Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Wenjie Xin
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Lina Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Zichun Hua
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life SciencesNanjing UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
- Changzhou High‐Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University and Jiangsu TargetPharma Laboratories Inc.ChangzhouJiangsuChina
- School of BiopharmacyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
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Kumar A, Rathi E, Kini SG. Computational design of a broad-spectrum multi-epitope vaccine candidate against seven strains of human coronaviruses. 3 Biotech 2022; 12:240. [PMID: 36003896 PMCID: PMC9395775 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03286-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Spike (S) proteins are an attractive target as it mediates the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 to the host through ACE-2 receptors. We hypothesize that the screening of the S protein sequences of all the seven known HCoVs would result in the identification of potential multi-epitope vaccine candidates capable of conferring immunity against various HCoVs. In the present study, several machine learning-based in-silico tools were employed to design a broad-spectrum multi-epitope vaccine candidate targeting the S protein of seven known strains of human coronaviruses. Herein, multiple B-cell epitopes and T-cell epitopes (CTL and HTL) were predicted from the S protein sequences of all seven known HCoVs. Post-prediction they were linked together with an adjuvant to construct a potential broad-spectrum vaccine candidate. Secondary and tertiary structures were predicted and validated, and the refined 3D-model was docked with an immune receptor. The vaccine candidate was evaluated for antigenicity, allergenicity, solubility, and its ability to achieve high-level expression in bacterial hosts. Finally, the immune simulation was carried out to evaluate the immune response after three vaccine doses. The designed vaccine is antigenic (with or without the adjuvant), non-allergenic, binds well with TLR-3 receptor and might elicit a diverse and strong immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
| | - Ekta Rathi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
| | - Suvarna Ganesh Kini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India.,Manipal Mc Gill Centre for Infectious Diseases, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka 576104 India
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Agarwal A, Beck KL, Capponi S, Kunitomi M, Nayar G, Seabolt E, Mahadeshwar G, Bianco S, Mukherjee V, Kaufman JH. Predicting Epitope Candidates for SARS-CoV-2. Viruses 2022; 14:1837. [PMID: 36016459 PMCID: PMC9416013 DOI: 10.3390/v14081837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epitopes are short amino acid sequences that define the antigen signature to which an antibody or T cell receptor binds. In light of the current pandemic, epitope analysis and prediction are paramount to improving serological testing and developing vaccines. In this paper, known epitope sequences from SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and other Coronaviridae were leveraged to identify additional antigen regions in 62K SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Additionally, we present epitope distribution across SARS-CoV-2 genomes, locate the most commonly found epitopes, and discuss where epitopes are located on proteins and how epitopes can be grouped into classes. The mutation density of different protein regions is presented using a big data approach. It was observed that there are 112 B cell and 279 T cell conserved epitopes between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, with more diverse sequences found in Nucleoprotein and Spike glycoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay Agarwal
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
| | - Kristen L. Beck
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
| | - Sara Capponi
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
- NSF Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Mark Kunitomi
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
| | - Gowri Nayar
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
| | - Edward Seabolt
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
| | - Gandhar Mahadeshwar
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
| | - Simone Bianco
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
- NSF Center for Cellular Construction, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Vandana Mukherjee
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
| | - James H. Kaufman
- AI and Cognitive Software, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA 95120, USA
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Molina-Mora JA. Insights into the mutation T1117I in the spike and the lineage B.1.1.389 of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Costa Rica. GENE REPORTS 2022; 27:101554. [PMID: 35155843 PMCID: PMC8824091 DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2022.101554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Emerging mutations and genotypes of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, have been reported globally. In Costa Rica during the year 2020, a predominant genotype carrying the mutation T1117I in the spike (S:T1117I) was previously identified. To investigate the possible effects of this mutation on the function of the spike, i.e. the biology of the virus, different bioinformatic pipelines based on phylogeny, natural selection, and co-evolutionary models, molecular docking, and epitopes prediction were implemented. Results of the phylogeny of sequences carrying the S:T1117I worldwide showed a polyphyletic group, with the emergence of local lineages. In Costa Rica, the mutation is found in the lineage B.1.1.389 and it is suggested to be a product of positive/adaptive selection. Different changes in the function of the spike protein and more stable interaction with a ligand (nelfinavir drug) were found. Only one epitope out 742 in the spike was affected by the mutation, with some different properties, but suggesting scarce changes in the immune response and no influence on the vaccine effectiveness. Jointly, these results suggest a partial benefit of the mutation for the spread of the virus with this genotype during the year 2020 in Costa Rica, although possibly not strong enough with the introduction of new lineages during early 2021 which became predominant later. In addition, the bioinformatic analyses used here can be applied as an in silico strategy to eventually study other mutations of interest for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Arturo Molina-Mora
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET) & Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
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12
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Chourasia R, Padhi S, Phukon LC, Abedin MM, Sirohi R, Singh SP, Rai AK. Peptide candidates for the development of therapeutics and vaccines against β-coronavirus infection. Bioengineered 2022; 13:9435-9454. [PMID: 35387556 PMCID: PMC9161909 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2060453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Betacoronaviruses (β-CoVs) have caused major viral outbreaks in the last two decades in the world. The mutation and recombination abilities in β-CoVs resulted in zoonotic diseases in humans. Proteins responsible for viral attachment and replication are highly conserved in β-CoVs. These conserved proteins have been extensively studied as targets for preventing infection and the spread of β-CoVs. Peptides are among the most promising candidates for developing vaccines and therapeutics against viral pathogens. The immunostimulatory and viral inhibitory potential of natural and synthetic peptides has been extensively studied since the SARS-CoV outbreak. Food-derived peptides demonstrating high antiviral activity can be used to develop effective therapeutics against β-CoVs. Specificity, tolerability, and customizability of peptides can be explored to develop potent drugs against β-CoVs. However, the proteolytic susceptibility and low bioavailability of peptides pose challenges for the development of therapeutics. This review illustrates the potential role of peptides in eliciting an adaptive immune response and inhibiting different stages of the β-CoV life cycle. Further, the challenges and future directions associated with developing peptide-based therapeutics and vaccines against existing and future β-CoV pathogens have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rounak Chourasia
- Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), Regional Centre, Tadong- 737102, India
| | - Srichandan Padhi
- Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), Regional Centre, Tadong- 737102, India
| | - Loreni Chiring Phukon
- Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), Regional Centre, Tadong- 737102, India
| | - Md Minhajul Abedin
- Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), Regional Centre, Tadong- 737102, India
| | - Ranjana Sirohi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145, Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sudhir P Singh
- Centre of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (DBT-CIAB), Sector-81, S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali- 140306, India
| | - Amit Kumar Rai
- Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), Regional Centre, Tadong- 737102, India.,Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), Mizoram Node, Aizawl, India
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13
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Abstract
This review discusses peptide epitopes used as antigens in the development of vaccines in clinical trials as well as future vaccine candidates. It covers peptides used in potential immunotherapies for infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, and others. In addition, peptides for cancer vaccines that target examples of overexpressed proteins are summarized, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), mucin 1 (MUC1), folate receptor, and others. The uses of peptides to target cancers caused by infective agents, for example, cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), are also discussed. This review also provides an overview of model peptide epitopes used to stimulate non-specific immune responses, and of self-adjuvanting peptides, as well as the influence of other adjuvants on peptide formulations. As highlighted in this review, several peptide immunotherapies are in advanced clinical trials as vaccines, and there is great potential for future therapies due the specificity of the response that can be achieved using peptide epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian W Hamley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, U.K
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14
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Therapeutic peptides: current applications and future directions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:48. [PMID: 35165272 PMCID: PMC8844085 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00904-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 478] [Impact Index Per Article: 239.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide drug development has made great progress in the last decade thanks to new production, modification, and analytic technologies. Peptides have been produced and modified using both chemical and biological methods, together with novel design and delivery strategies, which have helped to overcome the inherent drawbacks of peptides and have allowed the continued advancement of this field. A wide variety of natural and modified peptides have been obtained and studied, covering multiple therapeutic areas. This review summarizes the efforts and achievements in peptide drug discovery, production, and modification, and their current applications. We also discuss the value and challenges associated with future developments in therapeutic peptides.
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15
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Ozger ZB, Cihan P. A novel ensemble fuzzy classification model in SARS-CoV-2 B-cell epitope identification for development of protein-based vaccine. Appl Soft Comput 2022; 116:108280. [PMID: 34931117 PMCID: PMC8673934 DOI: 10.1016/j.asoc.2021.108280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
B-cell epitope prediction research has received growing interest since the development of the first method. B-cell epitope identification with the aid of an accurate prediction method is one of the most important steps in epitope-based vaccine development, immunodiagnostic testing, antibody production, disease diagnosis, and treatment. Nevertheless, using experimental methods in epitope mapping is very time-consuming, costly, and labor-intensive. Therefore, although successful predictions with in silico methods are very important in epitope prediction, there are limited studies in this area. The aim of this study is to propose a new approach for successfully predicting B-cell epitopes for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this study, the SARS-CoV B-cell epitope prediction performances of different fuzzy learning classification models genetic cooperative competitive learning (GCCL), fuzzy genetics-based machine learning (GBML), Chi's method (CHI), Ishibuchi's method with weight factor (W), structural learning algorithm on vague environment (SLAVE) and the state-of-the-art ensemble fuzzy classification model were compared. The obtained results showed that the proposed ensemble approach has the lowest error in SARS-CoV B-cell epitope estimation compared to the base fuzzy learners (average error rates; ensemble fuzzy=8.33, GCCL=30.42, GBML=23.82, CHI=29.17, W=46.25, and SLAVE=20.42). SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have high genome similarities. Therefore, the most successful method determined for SARS-CoV B-cell epitope prediction was used in SARS-CoV-2 cell epitope prediction. Finally, the eventual B-cell epitope prediction results obtained for SARS-CoV-2 with the ensemble fuzzy classification model were compared with the epitope sequences predicted by the BepiPred server and immunoinformatics studies in the literature for the same protein sequences according to VaxiJen 2.0 scores. We hope that the developed epitope prediction method will help design effective vaccines and drugs against future outbreaks of the coronavirus family, especially SARS-CoV-2 and its possible mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Banu Ozger
- Department of Computer Engineering, Sutcu Imam University, 46040, Kahramanmaras, Turkey
| | - Pınar Cihan
- Department of Computer Engineering, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, 59860, Corlu, Tekirdag, Turkey
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16
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Ferreira CS, Martins YC, Souza RC, Vasconcelos ATR. EpiCurator: an immunoinformatic workflow to predict and prioritize SARS-CoV-2 epitopes. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12548. [PMID: 34909278 PMCID: PMC8641484 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, triggered by the emerging SARS-CoV-2 virus, represents a global public health challenge. Therefore, the development of effective vaccines is an urgent need to prevent and control virus spread. One of the vaccine production strategies uses the in silico epitope prediction from the virus genome by immunoinformatic approaches, which assist in selecting candidate epitopes for in vitro and clinical trials research. This study introduces the EpiCurator workflow to predict and prioritize epitopes from SARS-CoV-2 genomes by combining a series of computational filtering tools. To validate the workflow effectiveness, SARS-CoV-2 genomes retrieved from the GISAID database were analyzed. We identified 11 epitopes in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of Spike glycoprotein, an important antigenic determinant, not previously described in the literature or published on the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB). Interestingly, these epitopes have a combination of important properties: recognized in sequences of the current variants of concern, present high antigenicity, conservancy, and broad population coverage. The RBD epitopes were the source for a multi-epitope design to in silico validation of their immunogenic potential. The multi-epitope overall quality was computationally validated, endorsing its efficiency to trigger an effective immune response since it has stability, high antigenicity and strong interactions with Toll-Like Receptors (TLR). Taken together, the findings in the current study demonstrated the efficacy of the workflow for epitopes discovery, providing target candidates for immunogen development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina S. Ferreira
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yasmmin C. Martins
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rangel Celso Souza
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Tereza R. Vasconcelos
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, National Laboratory of Scientific Computation, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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17
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Immunoinformatics mapping of potential epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258645. [PMID: 34780495 PMCID: PMC8592446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
All approved coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in current use are safe, effective, and reduce the risk of severe illness. Although data on the immunological presentation of patients with COVID-19 is limited, increasing experimental evidence supports the significant contribution of B and T cells towards the resolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Despite the availability of several COVID-19 vaccines with high efficacy, more effective vaccines are still needed to protect against the new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Employing a comprehensive immunoinformatic prediction algorithm and leveraging the genetic closeness with SARS-CoV, we have predicted potential immune epitopes in the structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. The S and N proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoVs are main targets of antibody detection and have motivated us to design four multi-epitope vaccines which were based on our predicted B- and T-cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins. The cardinal epitopes selected for the vaccine constructs are predicted to possess antigenic, non-allergenic, and cytokine-inducing properties. Additionally, some of the predicted epitopes have been experimentally validated in published papers. Furthermore, we used the C-ImmSim server to predict effective immune responses induced by the epitope-based vaccines. Taken together, the immune epitopes predicted in this study provide a platform for future experimental validations which may facilitate the development of effective vaccine candidates and epitope-based serological diagnostic assays.
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18
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Trimpert J, Herwig S, Stein J, Vladimirova D, Adler JM, Abdelgawad A, Firsching TC, Thoma T, Sehouli J, Osterrieder K, Gruber AD, Sawitzki B, Sander LE, Cichon G. Deciphering the Role of Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses in Different COVID-19 Vaccines-A Comparison of Vaccine Candidate Genes in Roborovski Dwarf Hamsters. Viruses 2021; 13:2290. [PMID: 34835096 PMCID: PMC8625836 DOI: 10.3390/v13112290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
With the exception of inactivated vaccines, all SARS-CoV-2 vaccines currently used for clinical application focus on the spike envelope glycoprotein as a virus-specific antigen. Compared to other SARS-CoV-2 genes, mutations in the spike protein gene are more rapidly selected and spread within the population, which carries the risk of impairing the efficacy of spike-based vaccines. It is unclear to what extent the loss of neutralizing antibody epitopes can be compensated by cellular immune responses, and whether the use of other SARS-CoV-2 antigens might cause a more diverse immune response and better long-term protection, particularly in light of the continued evolution towards new SARS-CoV-2 variants. To address this question, we explored immunogenicity and protective effects of adenoviral vectors encoding either the full-length spike protein (S), the nucleocapsid protein (N), the receptor binding domain (RBD) or a hybrid construct of RBD and the membrane protein (M) in a highly susceptible COVID-19 hamster model. All adenoviral vaccines provided life-saving protection against SARS-CoV-2-infection. The most efficient protection was achieved after exposure to full-length spike. However, the nucleocapsid protein, which triggered a robust T-cell response but did not facilitate the formation of neutralizing antibodies, controlled early virus replication efficiently and prevented severe pneumonia. Although the full-length spike protein is an excellent target for vaccines, it does not appear to be the only option for future vaccine design.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Antigens, Viral/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- COVID-19/immunology
- COVID-19/pathology
- COVID-19/prevention & control
- COVID-19/virology
- COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
- Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics
- Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/immunology
- Cricetinae
- Female
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunity, Humoral
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine
- Inflammation
- Lung/pathology
- Lung/virology
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Phosphoproteins/genetics
- Phosphoproteins/immunology
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- SARS-CoV-2/physiology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Viral Matrix Proteins/genetics
- Viral Matrix Proteins/immunology
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Trimpert
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (J.T.); (D.V.); (J.M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Susanne Herwig
- Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.H.); (J.S.)
| | - Julia Stein
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (J.S.); (T.T.); (B.S.)
| | - Daria Vladimirova
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (J.T.); (D.V.); (J.M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Julia M. Adler
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (J.T.); (D.V.); (J.M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Azza Abdelgawad
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (J.T.); (D.V.); (J.M.A.); (A.A.)
| | - Theresa C. Firsching
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (T.C.F.); (A.D.G.)
| | - Tizia Thoma
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (J.S.); (T.T.); (B.S.)
| | - Jalid Sehouli
- Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.H.); (J.S.)
| | - Klaus Osterrieder
- Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong;
| | - Achim D. Gruber
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany; (T.C.F.); (A.D.G.)
| | - Birgit Sawitzki
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (J.S.); (T.T.); (B.S.)
| | - Leif Erik Sander
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Günter Cichon
- Department of Gynecology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (S.H.); (J.S.)
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19
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In Silico Modeling as a Perspective in Developing Potential Vaccine Candidates and Therapeutics for COVID-19. COATINGS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/coatings11111273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The potential of computational models to identify new therapeutics and repurpose existing drugs has gained significance in recent times. The current ‘COVID-19’ pandemic caused by the new SARS CoV2 virus has affected over 200 million people and caused over 4 million deaths. The enormity and the consequences of this viral infection have fueled the research community to identify drugs or vaccines through a relatively expeditious process. The availability of high-throughput datasets has cultivated new strategies for drug development and can provide the foundation towards effective therapy options. Molecular modeling methods using structure-based or computer-aided virtual screening can potentially be employed as research guides to identify novel antiviral agents. This review focuses on in-silico modeling of the potential therapeutic candidates against SARS CoVs, in addition to strategies for vaccine design. Here, we particularly focus on the recently published SARS CoV main protease (Mpro) active site, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of SARS CoV2, and the spike S-protein as potential targets for vaccine development. This review can offer future perspectives for further research and the development of COVID-19 therapies via the design of new drug candidates and multi-epitopic vaccines and through the repurposing of either approved drugs or drugs under clinical trial.
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20
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Does immune recognition of SARS-CoV2 epitopes vary between different ethnic groups? Virus Res 2021; 305:198579. [PMID: 34560183 PMCID: PMC8453877 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV2 mediated Covid-19 pandemic has impacted humankind at an unprecedented scale. While substantial research efforts have focused towards understanding the mechanisms of viral infection and developing vaccines/ therapeutics, factors affecting the susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection and manifestation of Covid-19 remain less explored. Given that the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system is known to vary among ethnic populations, it is likely to affect the recognition of the virus, and in turn, the susceptibility to Covid-19. To understand this, we used bioinformatic tools to probe all SARS-CoV2 peptides which could elicit T-cell response in humans. We also tried to answer the intriguing question of whether these potential epitopes were equally immunogenic across ethnicities, by studying the distribution of HLA alleles among different populations and their share of cognate epitopes. Results indicate that the immune recognition potential of SARS-CoV2 epitopes tend to vary between different ethnic groups. While the South Asians are likely to recognize higher number of CD8-specific epitopes, Europeans are likely to identify higher number of CD4-specific epitopes. We also hypothesize and provide clues that the newer mutations in SARS-CoV2 are unlikely to alter the T-cell mediated immunogenic responses among the studied ethnic populations. The work presented herein is expected to bolster our understanding of the pandemic, by providing insights into differential immunological response of ethnic populations to the virus as well as by gaging the possible effects of mutations in SARS-CoV2 on efficacy of potential epitope-based vaccines through evaluating ∼40,000 viral genomes.
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21
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Chatterjee S, Mishra S, Chowdhury KD, Ghosh CK, Saha KD. Various theranostics and immunization strategies based on nanotechnology against Covid-19 pandemic: An interdisciplinary view. Life Sci 2021; 278:119580. [PMID: 33991549 PMCID: PMC8114615 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic is still a major risk to human civilization. Besides the global immunization policy, more than five lac new cases are documented everyday. Some countries newly implement partial/complete nationwid lockdown to mitigate recurrent community spreading. To avoid the new modified stain of SARS-CoV-2 spreading, some countries imposed any restriction on the movement of the citizens within or outside the country. Effective economical point of care diagnostic and therapeutic strategy is vigorously required to mitigate viral spread. Besides struggling with repurposed medicines, new engineered materials with multiple unique efficacies and specific antiviral potency against SARS-CoV-2 infection may be fruitful to save more lives. Nanotechnology-based engineering strategy sophisticated medicine with specific, effective and nonhazardous delivery mechanism for available repurposed antivirals as well as remedial for associated diseases due to malfeasance in immuno-system e.g. hypercytokinaemia, acute respiratory distress syndrome. This review will talk about gloomy but critical areas for nanoscientists to intervene and will showcase about the different laboratory diagnostic, prognostic strategies and their mode of actions. In addition, we speak about SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiology, pathogenicity and host specific interation with special emphasis on altered immuno-system and also perceptualized, copious ways to design prophylactic nanomedicines and next-generation vaccines based on recent findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujan Chatterjee
- Molecular Biology and Tissue Culture Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar College, Kolkata-700006, India
| | - Snehasis Mishra
- Cancer and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, India
| | - Kaustav Dutta Chowdhury
- Cyto-genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Rammohan College, 102/1, Raja Rammohan Sarani, Kolkata-700009, India
| | - Chandan Kumar Ghosh
- School of Material Science and Nanotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, India.
| | - Krishna Das Saha
- Cancer and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, India.
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22
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Chakraborty C, Sharma AR, Bhattacharya M, Lee SS. Lessons Learned from Cutting-Edge Immunoinformatics on Next-Generation COVID-19 Vaccine Research. Int J Pept Res Ther 2021; 27:2303-2311. [PMID: 34276266 PMCID: PMC8272614 DOI: 10.1007/s10989-021-10254-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Presently, immunoinformatics and bioinformatics approaches are contributing actively to COVID-19 vaccine research. The first immunoinformatics-based vaccine construct against SARS-CoV-2 was published in February 2020. Following this, immunoinformatics and bioinformatics approaches have created a new direction in COVID-19 vaccine research. Several researchers have designed the next-generation COVID-19 vaccines using these approaches. Presently, immunoinformatics has accelerated immunology research immensely in the area of COVID-19. Hence, we have tried to depict the current scenario of immunoinformatics and bioinformatics in COVID-19 vaccine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiranjib Chakraborty
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Adamas University, Barasat-Barrackpore Rd, Jagannathpur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700126 India
| | - Ashish Ranjan Sharma
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si, 24252 Gangwon-do Republic of Korea
| | - Manojit Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, Fakir Mohan University, VyasaVihar, Balasore, Odisha 756020 India
| | - Sang-Soo Lee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon-si, 24252 Gangwon-do Republic of Korea
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23
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Jearanaiwitayakul T, Seesen M, Chawengkirttikul R, Limthongkul J, Apichirapokey S, Sapsutthipas S, Phumiamorn S, Sunintaboon P, Ubol S. Intranasal Administration of RBD Nanoparticles Confers Induction of Mucosal and Systemic Immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9070768. [PMID: 34358183 PMCID: PMC8310126 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal immunity plays a significant role in host defense against viruses in the respiratory tract. Because the upper respiratory airway is a primary site of SARS-CoV-2 entry, immunization at the mucosa via the intranasal route could potentially lead to induction of local sterilizing immunity that protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of a receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein loaded into N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles (RBD-TMC NPs). We showed that intranasal delivery of RBD-TMC NPs into mice induced robust local mucosal immunity, as evidenced by the presence of IgG and IgA responses in BALs and the lungs of immunized mice. Furthermore, mice intranasally administered with this platform of immunogens developed robust systemic antibody responses including serum IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgA and neutralizing antibodies. In addition, these immunized mice had significantly higher levels of activated splenic CD4+ and CD8+ cells compared with those that were administered with soluble RBD immunogen. Collectively, these findings shed light on an alternative route of vaccination that mimics the natural route of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This route of administration stimulated not only local mucosal responses but also the systemic compartment of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuksin Jearanaiwitayakul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.J.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (J.L.); (S.A.)
| | - Mathurin Seesen
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.J.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (J.L.); (S.A.)
| | - Runglawan Chawengkirttikul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.J.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (J.L.); (S.A.)
| | - Jitra Limthongkul
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.J.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (J.L.); (S.A.)
| | - Suttikarn Apichirapokey
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.J.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (J.L.); (S.A.)
| | - Sompong Sapsutthipas
- Institute of Biological Products, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand; (S.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Supaporn Phumiamorn
- Institute of Biological Products, Department of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand; (S.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Panya Sunintaboon
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakornpatom 73170, Thailand;
| | - Sukathida Ubol
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (T.J.); (M.S.); (R.C.); (J.L.); (S.A.)
- Correspondence:
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24
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Rezaei S, Sefidbakht Y, Uskoković V. Tracking the pipeline: immunoinformatics and the COVID-19 vaccine design. Brief Bioinform 2021; 22:6313266. [PMID: 34219142 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount of data on genomic and proteomic sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) stored in various databases has exponentially grown. A large volume of these data has led to the production of equally immense sets of immunological data, which require rigorous computational approaches to sort through and make sense of. Immunoinformatics has emerged in the recent decades as a field capable of offering this approach by bridging experimental and theoretical immunology with state-of-the-art computational tools. Here, we discuss how immunoinformatics can assist in the development of high-performance vaccines and drug discovery needed to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Immunoinformatics can provide a set of computational tools to extract meaningful connections from the large sets of COVID-19 patient data, which can be implemented in the design of effective vaccines. With this in mind, we represent a pipeline to identify the role of immunoinformatics in COVID-19 treatment and vaccine development. In this process, a number of free databases of protein sequences, structures and mutations are introduced, along with docking web servers for assessing the interaction between antibodies and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein segments as most commonly considered antigens in vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shokouh Rezaei
- Protein Research Center at Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yahya Sefidbakht
- Protein Research Center at Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vuk Uskoković
- Founder of the biotech startup, TardigradeNano, and formerly a Professor at University of Illinois in Chicago, Chapman University, and University of California in Irvine
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25
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Beaudoin CA, Jamasb AR, Alsulami AF, Copoiu L, van Tonder AJ, Hala S, Bannerman BP, Thomas SE, Vedithi SC, Torres PH, Blundell TL. Predicted structural mimicry of spike receptor-binding motifs from highly pathogenic human coronaviruses. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:3938-3953. [PMID: 34234921 PMCID: PMC8249111 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.06.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Potential coronavirus spike protein mimicry revealed by structural comparison. Human and non-human protein potential interactions with virus identified. Predicted structural mimicry corroborated by protein–protein docking. Epitope-based alignments may help guide vaccine efforts.
Viruses often encode proteins that mimic host proteins in order to facilitate infection. Little work has been done to understand the potential mimicry of the SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV spike proteins, particularly the receptor-binding motifs, which could be important in determining tropism and druggability of the virus. Peptide and epitope motifs have been detected on coronavirus spike proteins using sequence homology approaches; however, comparing the three-dimensional shape of the protein has been shown as more informative in predicting mimicry than sequence-based comparisons. Here, we use structural bioinformatics software to characterize potential mimicry of the three coronavirus spike protein receptor-binding motifs. We utilize sequence-independent alignment tools to compare structurally known protein models with the receptor-binding motifs and verify potential mimicked interactions with protein docking simulations. Both human and non-human proteins were returned for all three receptor-binding motifs. For example, all three were similar to several proteins containing EGF-like domains: some of which are endogenous to humans, such as thrombomodulin, and others exogenous, such as Plasmodium falciparum MSP-1. Similarity to human proteins may reveal which pathways the spike protein is co-opting, while analogous non-human proteins may indicate shared host interaction partners and overlapping antibody cross-reactivity. These findings can help guide experimental efforts to further understand potential interactions between human and coronavirus proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Beaudoin
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Corresponding authors.
| | - Arian R. Jamasb
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Department of Computer Science & Technology, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge CB3 0FD, United Kingdom
| | - Ali F. Alsulami
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Liviu Copoiu
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Andries J. van Tonder
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom
| | - Sharif Hala
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre – Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bridget P. Bannerman
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Sherine E. Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Sundeep Chaitanya Vedithi
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro H.M. Torres
- Laboratório de Modelagem e Dinâmica Molecular, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tom L. Blundell
- Department of Biochemistry, Sanger Building, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom
- Corresponding authors.
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26
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Nagler A, Kalaora S, Barbolin C, Gangaev A, Ketelaars SLC, Alon M, Pai J, Benedek G, Yahalom-Ronen Y, Erez N, Greenberg P, Yagel G, Peri A, Levin Y, Satpathy AT, Bar-Haim E, Paran N, Kvistborg P, Samuels Y. Identification of presented SARS-CoV-2 HLA class I and HLA class II peptides using HLA peptidomics. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109305. [PMID: 34166618 PMCID: PMC8185308 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-bound viral antigens serve as an immunological signature that can be selectively recognized by T cells. As viruses evolve by acquiring mutations, it is essential to identify a range of presented viral antigens. Using HLA peptidomics, we are able to identify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-derived peptides presented by highly prevalent HLA class I (HLA-I) molecules by using infected cells as well as overexpression of SARS-CoV-2 genes. We find 26 HLA-I peptides and 36 HLA class II (HLA-II) peptides. Among the identified peptides, some are shared between different cells and some are derived from out-of-frame open reading frames (ORFs). Seven of these peptides were previously shown to be immunogenic, and we identify two additional immunoreactive peptides by using HLA multimer staining. These results may aid the development of the next generation of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines based on presented viral-specific antigens that span several of the viral genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Nagler
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shelly Kalaora
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Chaya Barbolin
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Anastasia Gangaev
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Steven L C Ketelaars
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, the Netherlands
| | - Michal Alon
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Joy Pai
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gil Benedek
- Tissue Typing and Immunogenetics Unit, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yfat Yahalom-Ronen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Noam Erez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Polina Greenberg
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gal Yagel
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aviyah Peri
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yishai Levin
- The de Botton Institute for Protein Profiling, The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ansuman T Satpathy
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Erez Bar-Haim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Nir Paran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Pia Kvistborg
- Tissue Typing and Immunogenetics Unit, Hadassah Medical Organization and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yardena Samuels
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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Mobini Kesheh M, Shavandi S, Hosseini P, Kakavand-Ghalehnoei R, Keyvani H. Bioinformatic HLA Studies in the Context of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Review on Association of HLA Alleles with Preexisting Medical Conditions. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:6693909. [PMID: 34136572 PMCID: PMC8162251 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6693909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
After the announcement of a new coronavirus in China in December 2019, which was then called SARS-CoV-2, this virus changed to a global concern and it was then declared as a pandemic by WHO. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles, which are one of the most polymorphic genes, play a pivotal role in both resistance and vulnerability of the body against viruses and other infections as well as chronic diseases. The association between HLA alleles and preexisting medical conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus is reported in various studies. In this review, we focused on the bioinformatic HLA studies to summarize the HLA alleles which responded to SARS-CoV-2 peptides and have been used to design vaccines. We also reviewed HLA alleles that are associated with comorbidities and might be related to the high mortality rate among COVID-19 patients. Since both genes and patients' medical conditions play a key role in both severity of the disease and the mortality rate in COVID-19 patients, a better understanding of the connection between HLA alleles and SARS-CoV-2 can provide a wider perspective on the behavior of the virus. Such understanding can help scientists, especially in terms of protecting healthcare workers and designing effective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Mobini Kesheh
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Shavandi
- Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parastoo Hosseini
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hossein Keyvani
- Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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28
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Zarubova J, Zhang X, Hoffman T, Hasani-Sadrabadi MM, Li S. Biomaterial-based immunoengineering to fight COVID-19 and infectious diseases. MATTER 2021; 4:1528-1554. [PMID: 33723531 PMCID: PMC7942141 DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2021.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Infection by SARS-CoV-2 virus often induces the dysregulation of immune responses, tissue damage, and blood clotting. Engineered biomaterials from the nano- to the macroscale can provide targeted drug delivery, controlled drug release, local immunomodulation, enhanced immunity, and other desirable functions to coordinate appropriate immune responses and to repair tissues. Based on the understanding of COVID-19 disease progression and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, we discuss possible immunotherapeutic strategies and highlight biomaterial approaches from the perspectives of preventive immunization, therapeutic immunomodulation, and tissue healing and regeneration. Successful development of biomaterial platforms for immunization and immunomodulation will not only benefit COVID-19 patients, but also have broad applications for a variety of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Zarubova
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xuexiang Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Tyler Hoffman
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mohammad Mahdi Hasani-Sadrabadi
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Song Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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29
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Khan MT, Islam MJ, Parihar A, Islam R, Jerin TJ, Dhote R, Ali MA, Laura FK, Halim MA. Immunoinformatics and molecular modeling approach to design universal multi-epitope vaccine for SARS-CoV-2. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2021; 24:100578. [PMID: 33898733 PMCID: PMC8057924 DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2021.100578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmittable and pathogenic human coronavirus that caused a pandemic situation of acute respiratory syndrome, called COVID-19, which has posed a significant threat to global health security. The aim of the present study is to computationally design an effective peptide-based multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) against SARS-CoV-2. The overall model quality of the vaccine candidate, immunogenicity, allergenicity, and physiochemical analysis have been conducted and validated. Molecular dynamics studies confirmed the stability of the candidate vaccine. The docked complexes during the simulation revealed a strong and stable binding interactions of MEV with human and mice toll-like receptors (TLR), TLR3 and TLR4. Finally, candidate vaccine codons have been optimized for their in silico cloning in E. coli expression system, to confirm increased expression. The proposed MEV can be a potential candidate against SARS-CoV-2, but experimental validation is needed to ensure its safety and immunogenicity status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Tahsin Khan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215, Bangladesh
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | - Md Jahirul Islam
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215, Bangladesh
| | - Arpana Parihar
- Department of Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 462026, India
| | - Rahatul Islam
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh
| | - Tarhima Jahan Jerin
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, 1902, Bangladesh
| | - Rupali Dhote
- Department of Genetics, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 462026, India
| | - Md Ackas Ali
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215, Bangladesh
| | - Fariha Khan Laura
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad A Halim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215, Bangladesh
- Department of Physical Sciences, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Fort Smith, AR, USA
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30
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Sohail MS, Ahmed SF, Quadeer AA, McKay MR. In silico T cell epitope identification for SARS-CoV-2: Progress and perspectives. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 171:29-47. [PMID: 33465451 PMCID: PMC7832442 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that T cells may play a critical role in combating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Hence, COVID-19 vaccines that can elicit a robust T cell response may be particularly important. The design, development and experimental evaluation of such vaccines is aided by an understanding of the landscape of T cell epitopes of SARS-CoV-2, which is largely unknown. Due to the challenges of identifying epitopes experimentally, many studies have proposed the use of in silico methods. Here, we present a review of the in silico methods that have been used for the prediction of SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes. These methods employ a diverse set of technical approaches, often rooted in machine learning. A performance comparison is provided based on the ability to identify a specific set of immunogenic epitopes that have been determined experimentally to be targeted by T cells in convalescent COVID-19 patients, shedding light on the relative performance merits of the different approaches adopted by the in silico studies. The review also puts forward perspectives for future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Saqib Sohail
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Syed Faraz Ahmed
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ahmed Abdul Quadeer
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Matthew R McKay
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
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31
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Kumar B, Parasuraman P, Murthy TPK, Murahari M, Chandramohan V. In silico screening of therapeutic potentials from Strychnos nux-vomica against the dimeric main protease (M pro) structure of SARS-CoV-2. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:7796-7814. [PMID: 33759690 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1902394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The novel coronavirus also referred to as SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19 and became global epidemic since its initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Research efforts are still been endeavoured towards discovering/designing of potential drugs and vaccines against this virus. In the present studies, we have contributed to the development of a drug based on natural products to combat the newly emerged and life-threatening disease. The main protease (MPro) of SARS-CoV-2 is a homodimer and a key component involved in viral replication, and is considered as a prime target for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development. Literature survey revealed that the phytochemicals present in Strychnos nux-vomica possess several therapeutic activities. Initially, in the light of drug likeness laws, the ligand library of phytoconstituents was subjected to drug likeness analysis. The resulting compounds were taken to binding site-specific consensus-based molecular docking studies and the results were compared with the positive control drug, lopinavir, which is a main protease inhibitor. The top compounds were tested for ADME-Tox properties and antiviral activity. Further molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA-based binding affinity estimation were carried out for top two lead compounds' complexes along with the apo form of main protease and positive control drug lopinavir complex, and the results were comparatively analysed. The results revealed that the two analogues of same scaffold, namely demethoxyguiaflavine and strychnoflavine, have potential against Mpro and can be validated through clinical studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birendra Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - P Parasuraman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Manikanta Murahari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Vivek Chandramohan
- Department of Biotechnology, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India
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32
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Wang D, Ge Y, Zhong B, Liu D. Specific epitopes form extensive hydrogen-bonding networks to ensure efficient antibody binding of SARS-CoV-2: Implications for advanced antibody design. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1661-1671. [PMID: 33777333 PMCID: PMC7985686 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutralizing antibody targeting to the SARS-CoV-2 could provide powerful therapies. A neutralizing antibody CC12.1 which was found in SARS-CoV-2 patient samples provides potential protection from disease. The aim of molecular dynamics simulations is to identify key epitopes that are crucial to the antibody binding of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein receptor binding domain (RBD) to promote the development of superior antibodies. Binding modes of the antibody were investigated and compared with RBD bound receptor ACE2. Key epitopes were revealed and a distal motif of RBD (residue numbers 473–488) was demonstrated by analyzing dynamic trajectories. Compared to the receptor ACE2, conformation of RBD could be better stabilized through additional interaction of antibody with the distal motif of RBD, which was further found driven by electrostatic complementarity. By further analysis of the extensive hydrogen-bonding networks, residues D405, K417, Y421, Y453, L455, R457, Y473, A475, N487, G502, Y505 of RBD, which mainly interacted with CDR H3/L3 and two conserved motifs SNY, SGGS, were identified as key epitopes. Higher binding free energy calculated after point mutations on key residues confirms the crucial role for the specific binding. Subsequently, mutations of VH V98E and VL G68D in CC12.1, which could significantly enhance the binding affinity of the antibody, were also proposed. The results indicate the key epitopes for antibody binding and give explanations for failure of neutralization antibody caused by specific residues mutations on structural basis. Simulations of two point mutations on antibody provide feasible information for advanced antibody design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daojiong Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Yushu Ge
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Bin Zhong
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
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33
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Fang S, Li K, Shen J, Liu S, Liu J, Yang L, Hu CD, Wan J. GESS: a database of global evaluation of SARS-CoV-2/hCoV-19 sequences. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:D706-D714. [PMID: 33045727 PMCID: PMC7778918 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has become a global emergency since December 2019. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequences can uncover single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and corresponding evolution patterns. The Global Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2/hCoV-19 Sequences (GESS, https://wan-bioinfo.shinyapps.io/GESS/) is a resource to provide comprehensive analysis results based on tens of thousands of high-coverage and high-quality SARS-CoV-2 complete genomes. The database allows user to browse, search and download SNVs at any individual or multiple SARS-CoV-2 genomic positions, or within a chosen genomic region or protein, or in certain country/area of interest. GESS reveals geographical distributions of SNVs around the world and across the states of USA, while exhibiting time-dependent patterns for SNV occurrences which reflect development of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. For each month, the top 100 SNVs that were firstly identified world-widely can be retrieved. GESS also explores SNVs occurring simultaneously with specific SNVs of user's interests. Furthermore, the database can be of great help to calibrate mutation rates and identify conserved genome regions. Taken together, GESS is a powerful resource and tool to monitor SARS-CoV-2 migration and evolution according to featured genomic variations. It provides potential directive information for prevalence prediction, related public health policy making, and vaccine designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Fang
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kailing Li
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jikui Shen
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sheng Liu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Collaborative Core for Cancer Bioinformatics (CB) shared by Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Juli Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Chang-Deng Hu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jun Wan
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Collaborative Core for Cancer Bioinformatics (CB) shared by Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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34
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Chen X, Han W, Wang G, Zhao X. Application prospect of polysaccharides in the development of anti-novel coronavirus drugs and vaccines. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 164:331-343. [PMID: 32679328 PMCID: PMC7358770 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.07.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it has spread rapidly worldwide and poses a great threat to public health. This is the third serious coronavirus outbreak in <20 years, following SARS in 2002-2003 and MERS in 2012. So far, there are almost no specific clinically effective drugs and vaccines available for COVID-19. Polysaccharides with good safety, immune regulation and antiviral activity have broad application prospects in anti-virus, especially in anti-coronavirus applications. Here, we reviewed the antiviral mechanisms of some polysaccharides, such as glycosaminoglycans, marine polysaccharides, traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides, and their application progress in anti-coronavirus. In particular, the application prospects of polysaccharide-based vaccine adjuvants, nanomaterials and drug delivery systems in the fight against novel coronavirus were also analyzed and summarized. Additionally, we speculate the possible mechanisms of polysaccharides anti-SARS-CoV-2, and propose the strategy of loading S or N protein from coronavirus onto polysaccharide capped gold nanoparticles vaccine for COVID-19 treatment. This review may provide a new approach for the development of COVID-19 therapeutic agents and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Glycoscience and Glycoengineering, Qingdao 266003, China,Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Wenwei Han
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Glycoscience and Glycoengineering, Qingdao 266003, China,Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Guixiang Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Xia Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Glycoscience and Glycoengineering, Qingdao 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China.
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35
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Al-Azzam S, Ding Y, Liu J, Pandya P, Ting JP, Afshar S. Peptides to combat viral infectious diseases. Peptides 2020; 134:170402. [PMID: 32889022 PMCID: PMC7462603 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2020.170402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Viral infectious diseases have resulted in millions of deaths throughout history and have created a significant public healthcare burden. Tremendous efforts have been placed by the scientific communities, health officials and government organizations to detect, treat, and prevent viral infection. However, the complicated life cycle and rapid genetic mutations of viruses demand continuous development of novel medicines with high efficacy and safety profiles. Peptides provide a promising outlook as a tool to combat the spread and re-emergence of viral infection. This article provides an overview of five viral infectious diseases with high global prevalence: influenza, chronic hepatitis B, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and coronavirus disease 2019. The current and potential peptide-based therapies, vaccines, and diagnostics for each disease are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shams Al-Azzam
- Professional Scientific Services, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Lancaster, PA, 17605, USA
| | - Yun Ding
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Jinsha Liu
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Priyanka Pandya
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Joey Paolo Ting
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Sepideh Afshar
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
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Gopinath K, Jokinen EM, Kurkinen ST, Pentikäinen OT. Screening of Natural Products Targeting SARS-CoV-2-ACE2 Receptor Interface - A MixMD Based HTVS Pipeline. Front Chem 2020; 8:589769. [PMID: 33330376 PMCID: PMC7717977 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.589769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a severe global health crisis now. SARS-CoV-2 utilizes its Spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-protein) to invade human cell through binding to Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2). S-protein is the key target for many therapeutics and vaccines. Potential S-protein-ACE2 fusion inhibitor is expected to block the virus entry into the host cell. In many countries, traditional practices, based on natural products (NPs) have been in use to slow down COVID-19 infection. In this study, a protocol was applied that combines mixed solvent molecular dynamics simulations (MixMD) with high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) to search NPs to block SARS-CoV-2 entry into the human cell. MixMD simulations were employed to discover the most promising stable binding conformations of drug-like probes in the S-protein-ACE2 interface. Detected stable sites were used for HTVs of 612093 NPs to identify molecules that could interfere with the S-protein-ACE2 interaction. In total, 19 NPs were selected with rescoring model. These top-ranked NP-S-protein complexes were subjected to classical MD simulations for 300 ns (3 replicates of 100 ns) to estimate the stability and affinity of binding. Three compounds, ZINC000002128789, ZINC000002159944 and SN00059335, showed better stability in all MD runs, of which ZINC000002128789 was predicted to have the highest binding affinity, suggesting that it could be effective modulator in RBD-ACE2 interface to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results support that NPs may provide tools to fight COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Olli T. Pentikäinen
- Faculty of Medicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Das B, Chakraborty D. Epitope-Based Potential Vaccine Candidate for Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity to Combat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pandemic. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:9920-9930. [PMID: 33174418 PMCID: PMC7670824 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c02846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome from novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has put an immense pressure worldwide where vaccination is believed to be an efficient way for developing hard immunity. Herein, we employ immunoinformatic tools to identify B-cell, T-cell epitopes associated with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which is important for genome release. The results showed that the highly immunogenic epitopes located at the stalk part are mostly conserved compared to the receptor binding domain (RDB). Further, two vaccine candidates were computationally modeled from the linear B-cell, T-cell epitopes. Molecular docking reveals the crucial interactions of the vaccines with immune-receptors, and their stability is assessed by MD simulation studies. The chimeric vaccines showed remarkable binding affinity toward the immune cell receptors computed by the MM/PBSA method. van der Waals and electrostatic interactions are found to be the dominant factors for the stability of the complexes. The molecular-level interaction obtained from this study may provide deeper insight into the process of vaccine development against the pandemic of COVID-19.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- COVID-19/prevention & control
- COVID-19 Vaccines/chemistry
- COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
- COVID-19 Vaccines/metabolism
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/chemistry
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Molecular Dynamics Simulation
- Protein Binding
- Protein Domains
- SARS-CoV-2/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism
- Vaccines, Subunit/chemistry
- Vaccines, Subunit/immunology
- Vaccines, Subunit/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Bratin
Kumar Das
- Biophysical and Computational Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology
Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore, 575025, India
| | - Debashree Chakraborty
- Biophysical and Computational Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology
Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore, 575025, India
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Predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19-a systematic review. Eur J Integr Med 2020; 40:101226. [PMID: 33101547 PMCID: PMC7568488 DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2020.101226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction In the current COVID-19 pandemic, disease diagnosis is essential for optimal management and timely isolation of infected cases in order to prevent further spread. The aim of this study was to systematically review the assessment of risk and model the predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods A systematic search was conducted of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases. Variables associated with hospital mortality using bivariate analysis were included as potential independent predictors associated with mortality at the p < 0.05 levels. Results We included 114 studies accounting for 310,494 patients from various parts of the world. For the purpose of this analysis, we set a cutoff point of 10% for the mortality percentages. High mortality rates were defined as higher than 10% of confirmed positive cases and were given a score of two, while low mortality (<10%) was assigned the score of one. We then analyzed the associations between 72 variables and the observed mortality rates. These variables included a large range of related variables such as demographics, signs and symptoms and related morbidities, vital signs, laboratory findings, imaging studies, underlying diseases, and the status of countries' income, based on the United Nation's classifications. Conclusion Findings suggest that older age, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus conferred a significant increased risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19. In the multivariate analysis, only diabetes mellitus demonstrated an independent relationship with increased mortality. Further studies are needed to ascertain the relationship between possible risk factors with COVID-19 mortality.
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Farrera-Soler L, Daguer JP, Barluenga S, Vadas O, Cohen P, Pagano S, Yerly S, Kaiser L, Vuilleumier N, Winssinger N. Identification of immunodominant linear epitopes from SARS-CoV-2 patient plasma. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238089. [PMID: 32903266 PMCID: PMC7480855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the source of a current pandemic (COVID-19) with devastating consequences in public health and economic stability. Using a peptide array to map the antibody response of plasma from healing patients (12) and heathy patients (6), we identified three immunodominant linear epitopes, two of which correspond to key proteolytic sites on the spike protein (S1/S2 and S2') known to be critical for cellular entry. We show biochemical evidence that plasma positive for the epitope adjacent to the S1/S2 cleavage site inhibits furin-mediated proteolysis of spike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lluc Farrera-Soler
- Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Pierre Daguer
- Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Barluenga
- Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Oscar Vadas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Cohen
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Department, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Pagano
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Department, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Yerly
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Department, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Kaiser
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Department, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases¸ Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Vuilleumier
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Diagnostic Department, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Winssinger
- Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Noorimotlagh Z, Karami C, Mirzaee SA, Kaffashian M, Mami S, Azizi M. Immune and bioinformatics identification of T cell and B cell epitopes in the protein structure of SARS-CoV-2: A systematic review. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 86:106738. [PMID: 32683296 PMCID: PMC7321027 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.106738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The beginning of 2020 was marked as the emergence of a COVID-19 outbreak caused by a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Currently, there is no vaccine or approved treatment for this infectious virus so the invention of an efficient vaccine is certainly a high priority. Some studies have employed several techniques to facilitate the combination of the immunoinformatics approach and comparative genomic approach in order to determine the potential peptides for designing the T-cell epitope-based peptide vaccine using the 2019-nCoV envelope protein as a target. Via screening the bioimmunoinformatic SARS-CoV2 derived B-cell and T-cell epitopes within the basic immunogenic of SARS-CoV2 proteins, we presented a set of inferred B-cell and T-cell epitopes from the spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins with high antigenicity and without allergenic property or toxic effects. Our findings provide a screened set of epitopes that can be introduced as potential targets for developing peptide vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Noorimotlagh
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Chiman Karami
- Department of Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology, Ardebil University of Medical Sciences, Ardebil, Iran
| | - Seyyed Abbas Mirzaee
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Kaffashian
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Sanaz Mami
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Mahdieh Azizi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Trigueiro-Louro J, Correia V, Figueiredo-Nunes I, Gíria M, Rebelo-de-Andrade H. Unlocking COVID therapeutic targets: A structure-based rationale against SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV Spike. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2117-2131. [PMID: 32913581 PMCID: PMC7452956 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There are no approved target therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 or other beta-CoVs. The beta-CoV Spike protein is a promising target considering the critical role in viral infection and pathogenesis and its surface exposed features. We performed a structure-based strategy targeting highly conserved druggable regions resulting from a comprehensive large-scale sequence analysis and structural characterization of Spike domains across SARSr- and MERSr-CoVs. We have disclosed 28 main consensus druggable pockets within the Spike. The RBD and SD1 (S1 subunit); and the CR, HR1 and CH (S2 subunit) represent the most promising conserved druggable regions. Additionally, we have identified 181 new potential hot spot residues for the hSARSr-CoVs and 72 new hot spot residues for the SARSr- and MERSr-CoVs, which have not been described before in the literature. These sites/residues exhibit advantageous structural features for targeted molecular and pharmacological modulation. This study establishes the Spike as a promising anti-CoV target using an approach with a potential higher resilience to resistance development and directed to a broad spectrum of Beta-CoVs, including the new SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19. This research also provides a structure-based rationale for the design and discovery of chemical inhibitors, antibodies or other therapeutic modalities successfully targeting the Beta-CoV Spike protein.
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Key Words
- ACE2, angiotensin-converting enzyme2
- Bat-SL-CoVs, bat SARS-like coronavirus
- Beta-CoVs, betacoronavirus
- Betacoronavirus
- CC, conserved cluster
- CD, connector domain
- CDP, consensus druggable pocket
- CDR, consensus druggable residue
- CH, central helix
- CP, cytoplasmic domain
- CR, connecting region
- CS, conservation score
- CoVs, coronavirus
- Coronavirus disease
- DGSS, DoGSiteScorer
- DPP4, dipeptidyl peptidase-4
- Druggability prediction
- FP, fusion peptide
- HR1, heptad repeat 1
- HR2, heptad repeat 2
- MERS-CoVs, middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- MERSr-CoVs, middle east respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
- MSA, multiple sequence alignment
- NTD, N-terminal domain
- Novel antiviral targets
- PDB, Protein Data Bank
- PDS, PockDrug-Server
- RBD, Receptor-Binding Domain
- S, Spike
- SARS-CoV-2
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- SARS-CoVs, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- SARSr-CoVs, severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
- SD1, subdomain 1
- SD2, subdomain 2
- SF, SiteFinder from MOE
- SP, small pocket
- Sequence conservation
- Spike protein
- Sv, shorter variant
- T-RHS, top-ranked hot spots
- TMPRSS2, transmembrane protease serine 2
- aa, amino acid
- hSARSr-CoVs, human Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
- nts, nucleotides
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Affiliation(s)
- João Trigueiro-Louro
- Antiviral Resistance Lab, Research & Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, IP, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Correia
- Antiviral Resistance Lab, Research & Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, IP, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inês Figueiredo-Nunes
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Gíria
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Helena Rebelo-de-Andrade
- Antiviral Resistance Lab, Research & Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, IP, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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Dar HA, Waheed Y, Najmi MH, Ismail S, Hetta HF, Ali A, Muhammad K. Multiepitope Subunit Vaccine Design against COVID-19 Based on the Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2: An In Silico Analysis. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:8893483. [PMID: 33274246 PMCID: PMC7678744 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8893483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The global health crisis caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of COVID-19, has resulted in a negative impact on human health and on social and economic activities worldwide. Researchers around the globe need to design and develop successful therapeutics as well as vaccines against the novel COVID-19 disease. In the present study, we conducted comprehensive computer-assisted analysis on the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 in order to design a safe and potent multiepitope vaccine. In silico epitope prioritization shortlisted six HLA I epitopes and six B-cell-derived HLA II epitopes. These high-ranked epitopes were all connected to each other via flexible GPGPG linkers, and at the N-terminus side, the sequence of Cholera Toxin β subunit was attached via an EAAAK linker. Structural modeling of the vaccine was performed, and molecular docking analysis strongly suggested a positive association of a multiepitope vaccine with Toll-like Receptor 3. The structural investigations of the vaccine-TLR3 complex revealed the formation of fifteen interchain hydrogen bonds, thus validating its integrity and stability. Moreover, it was found that this interaction was thermodynamically feasible. In conclusion, our data supports the proposition that a multiepitope vaccine will provide protective immunity against COVID-19. However, further in vivo and in vitro experiments are needed to validate the immunogenicity and safety of the candidate vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Arshad Dar
- 1Foundation University Medical College, Foundation University Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Yasir Waheed
- 1Foundation University Medical College, Foundation University Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Muzammil Hasan Najmi
- 1Foundation University Medical College, Foundation University Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Saba Ismail
- 1Foundation University Medical College, Foundation University Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Helal F. Hetta
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0595, USA
- 3Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt
| | - Amjad Ali
- 4Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Muhammad
- 5Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, UAE
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