Identification of Conserved Epitopes in SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Nucleocapsid Protein.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel virus that first occurred in Wuhan in December 2019. The spike glycoproteins and nucleocapsid proteins are the most common targets for the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs.

Objective

We herein analyze the rate of evolution along with the sequences of spike and nucleocapsid proteins in relation to the spatial locations of their epitopes, previously suggested to contribute to the immune response caused by SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Methods

We compare homologous proteins of seven human coronaviruses: HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, SARS-CoV, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. We then focus on the local, structural order-disorder propensity of the protein regions where the SARS-Co

SUBMITTER: Forcelloni S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8905637 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature