[Cell Research] Mining of epitopes on spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19 patients

16/07/2020

Cell Research, 1 July 2020

Bao-zhong Zhang, Ye-fan Hu, Lin-lei Chen, Thomas Yau, Yi-gang Tong, Jing-chu Hu, Jian-piao Cai, Kwok-Hung Chan, Ying Dou, Jian Deng, Xiao-lei Wang, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, Kwok Yung Yuen & Jian-Dong Huang

The study analysed and tested immunogenic information of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, and then discussed the feasibility of rational design of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 by using the information.

Currently, the Spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is widely considered as a promising antigen, which could stimulate one’s immune response against SARS-CoV-2. In vivo or in natura data of the immune response in patients, including major immune responses to S protein, are currently lacking. Therefore, it is important to mine serological information from COVID-19 patients for further rational design of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The study identified nine sites of Spike protein in 39 serum samples from discharged or hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Among them, four linear B cell epitopes were found in the RBD region of SARS-CoV-2. This finding provided with direct serological evidence from patients for the first time. It is necessary to reveal these sites for providing new clues to the rational design of vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.