SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (BA.1 and BA.2) specific novel CD8+ and CD4+ T cell epitopes targeting spike protein.

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 lineag

SUBMITTER: Parn S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9624113 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature