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Campos-Ruíz MA, Illades-Aguiar B, Del Moral-Hernández O, Romo-Castillo M, Salazar-García M, Espinoza-Rojo M, Vences-Velázquez A, Cortés-Sarabia K, Luna-Pineda VM. Immunized mice naturally process in silico-derived peptides from the nucleocapsid of SARS-CoV-2. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:319. [PMID: 37898784 PMCID: PMC10612231 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03076-5] [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: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nucleocapsid (N) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an excellent immunogen that promotes the production of high-titer antibodies. N protein-derived peptides identified using a bioinformatics approach can potentially be used to develop a new generation of vaccines or diagnostic methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. However, further studies must demonstrate their capacity to be naturally processed by the immune system. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the in vivo processing and recognition of in silico-identified peptides using the serum of immunized animals with the complete protein. METHODS Recombinant N (Nrec) protein was subcutaneously administered to six Balb/c mice. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting, dot blotting, and immunoprecipitation were performed to evaluate the recognition of the complete protein and in silico-derived peptides. RESULTS The serum of immunized mice recognized ~ 62.5 ng/µL of Nrec with high specificity to linear and conformational epitopes. Dot blot analysis showed that peptides Npep2 and Npep3 were the most reactive. CONCLUSION Our data confirm the high immunogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 N protein and provide evidence on the antigenicity of two peptides located in the N-arm/RNA-binding domain (Npep2) and oligomerization domain/C-tail (Npep3), considered the biologically active site of the N protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Aldair Campos-Ruíz
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Diagnóstico Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México
| | - Berenice Illades-Aguiar
- Laboratorio de Biomedicina Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México
| | - Oscar Del Moral-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Virología, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México
| | - Mariana Romo-Castillo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en COVID-19, Laboratorio de Investigación en Inmunología y Proteómica, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Ciudad de México, México
- Programa Investigadoras e Investigadores por México, Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Marcela Salazar-García
- Laboratorio de Biología del Desarrollo y Teratogénesis Experimental, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Mónica Espinoza-Rojo
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Diagnóstico Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México
| | - Amalia Vences-Velázquez
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Diagnóstico Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México
| | - Karen Cortés-Sarabia
- Laboratorio de Inmunobiología y Diagnóstico Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, México.
| | - Victor M Luna-Pineda
- Laboratorio de Investigación en COVID-19, Laboratorio de Investigación en Inmunología y Proteómica, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Ciudad de México, México.
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Khan SS, Ullah A. Comparative genomics of spike, envelope, and nucleocapsid protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Afr Health Sci 2023; 23:384-399. [PMID: 38357143 PMCID: PMC10862604 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v23i3.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) upsurge sprang up in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019. Objectives Due to the exceptionally high mutation frequency, comparative genomics of viruses isolated throughout time and in various geographical locations are crucial. To better understand how SARS-CoV-2 heterogeneity has changed around the globe, this research was conducted. Methods Nucleotide and protein sequences of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and bat SARS-like CoV were extracted from the NCBI Virus database. The Wuhan SARS-CoV-2 variant was used as a reference. Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Study performed the phylogenetic analysis, while the Genome Detective Coronavirus Typing Tool performed the mutational analysis. Results The evolutionary research has revealed that bats are the primary host for coronavirus evolution and the origin of the formation of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Numerous mutations have been discovered in the spike, envelope, and nucleocapsid protein. Conclusions The current research findings may have an implication that facilitates the development of prospective immunization candidates/small pharmacological compounds targeting COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sufyan Sohail Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Anwar Ullah
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
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B. S. A. S. S, J. L. R. C, I. C. C, J. M. C. C, B. C. L, G. C. F. G, P. H. S. M. D, G. M. M. M, F. G. F, J. S. A, A. A. P. M, M. F. L, R. L. O, Z. I. P. L, H. S. M. Nanotechnology meets immunology towards a rapid diagnosis solution: the COVID-19 outbreak challenge. RSC Adv 2022; 12:31711-31728. [PMID: 36380932 PMCID: PMC9635439 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra05096j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic presents one of the greatest challenges in human history. There is a consensus that the rapid and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 directly affects procedures to avoid dissemination, promote treatments, and favor the prognosis of infected patients. This interdisciplinary study aims at designing new synthetic peptides inspired by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SARS-CoV-2S) to produce rapid detection tests relying on nanomaterial-based colorimetric properties. Hence, in silico analyses of SARS-CoV-2S were performed using advanced bioinformatic simulation tools and algorithms. Five novel peptide sequences were proposed, and three were selected (P2, J4, and J5) based on their prospective reactivity against positive serum from naturally COVID-19-infected humans. Next, hyperimmune sera against the selected peptides were produced in rabbits. Concurrently, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) were synthesized using a green aqueous method under mild conditions through in situ reduction by trisodium citrate salt. They were extensively characterized by their morphological, physicochemical, and optical properties. The AuNPs demonstrated colloidal chemical stability in aqueous media, with an average size of approximately 29 nm (metallic core), and zeta potential before and after bioconjugation of −43 mV and −31 mV, respectively. Moreover, they presented an intense reddish-bluish color due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, with maxima at λ = 525 nm and 536 nm, before and after bioconjugation, respectively, evidencing their applicability as colorimetric biomarkers for antigen–antibody immunoassay detection. To develop a rapid COVID-19 diagnosis test using lateral flow assay (LFA), semi-purified anti-SARS-CoV-2S sera against the three selected peptides were bioconjugated to the AuNPs as the highly optically sensitive agents using a considerably low antibody concentration (0.2 mg mL−1). All tested peptide sequences (P2, J4, and J5) induced antibodies capable of identifying the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus inactivate suspensions (1 : 10, 1 : 100, or 1 : 1000 dilutions). For LFA positive test control, an anti-rabbit antibody was used. In summary, this research comprises several contributions and advances to the broad and multidisciplinary field of nanomaterials-based immunodiagnosis tools, encompassing: (a) the novelty of designing and synthesizing new immunogenic peptides inspired by SARS-CoV-2 virus epitopes using in silico bioinformatics; (b) the peptides induced the immune response in rabbit animal model producing hyperimmune serum; (c) the semi-purified hyperimmune serum rendered effective antibodies to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell suspension; (d) colloidal gold nanoparticles were produced and bioconjugated to the antibodies for qualitative colorimetric detection. As the overall result of this study, it was designed, developed, produced, and validated a new simple, rapid, and sensitive LFA diagnostic test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus using a nanotechnology-based qualitative colorimetric assay, which can be envisioned as promising nanoplatforms for detecting other diseases. The current COVID-19 pandemic presents one of the greatest challenges in human history.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Santos B. S. A. S.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Cunha J. L. R.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- University of York, York Biomedical Institute, New York, UK
| | - Carvalho I. C.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, MG, Brazil
| | - Costa J. M. C.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Longo B. C.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Galinari G. C. F.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Diniz P. H. S. M.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Colégio Técnico, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Mendes G. M. M.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Faculdade de Farmácia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Fonseca F. G.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Abrahão J. S.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Mansur A. A. P.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, MG, Brazil
| | - Leite M. F.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Oréfice R. L.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, MG, Brazil
| | - Lobato Z. I. P.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Mansur H. S.
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, MG, Brazil
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