Epitope-based Immunoinformatics Approach on Nucleocapsid Protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2

Abstract

With an increasing fatality rate, severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged as a promising threat to human health worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is a member of the Coronaviridae family, which is transmitted from animal to human and because of being contagious, further it transmitted human to human. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which is known as coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) as a global pandemic. But, no specific medications are available for the treatment of COVID-19 so far. As a corollary, there is a need for a potential vaccine to impede the progression of the disease. Lately, it has been documented that the nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for viral replication as well as interferes with host immune responses. We have comparatively analyzed the sequences of N protein of SARS-CoV-2 for the identification of core attributes and analyzed the ancestry through phylogenetic analysis. Subsequently, we have predicted the most immunogenic epitope for T-cell as well as B-cell. Importantly, our investigation mainly focused on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I potential peptides and NTASWFTAL interacted with most human leukocyte antigen (HLA) that are encoded by MHC class I molecules. Further, molecular docking analysis unveiled that NTASWFTAL possessed a greater affinity towards HLA and also available in a greater range of the population. Our study provides a consolidated base for vaccine design and we hope that this computational analysis will pave the way for designing novel vaccine candidates.

Characterization and application of a series of monoclonal antibodies against SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleocapsid protein

“…28,29 However, few reports on the study of that can recognize MHC. [30][31][32][33][34][35] In the present study, N3-1 was also identified as a B cell epitope detected by MAb K1-175.…”

“…SARS‐CoV‐2 NP epitopes stimulate the immune system to release various cytokines through helper T‐lymphocytes and antigen‐presenting cells, leading to the activation of cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes and B‐cell lymphocytes to lyse infected cells and kill pathogens. Based on immunoinformatics and epitope information from the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource, N1‐3 and N4‐8 are B‐cell epitopes, while the N3‐1 epitope is a T‐cell epitope that can recognize MHC 30–35 . In the present study, N3‐1 was also identified as a B cell epitope detected by MAb K1‐175.…”

“…The N1‐3 epitope has excellent parameters, such as high antigenicity, non‐allergenicity, non‐toxicity, hydrophilicity, flexibility, and beta‐turn. Four of its amino acids (36RSKQ39) have surface accessibility and are likely to be readily recognized by MAbs 32,34 . As expected, N1‐3 is also the dominant epitope identified in the murine anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 NP sera; therefore, it can be considered for serological testing and multi‐epitope vaccine design.…”

Biochemical and Computational Approach of Selected Phytocompounds from Tinospora crispa in the Management of COVID-19

“…Although several kinds of research are being carried out in famous laboratories in several countries, vaccine development for disease is usually time-consuming. Despite there being plenty of experimental trials associated with COVID-19 treatment and medications, as of yet, scientists are still on the hunt for specific therapeutic drugs [ 34 ].…”

Public Perceptions of the COVID-19 Pandemic Management in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Exploration

“…Although the epidemiologic features of SARS-COV-2 virus [19,20], its clinical manifestations in different patient groups [21,22], and its molecular characteristics [23][24][25], as well as health systems response [26], economic and social consequences [27][28][29], and public attitudes toward the measures implemented in Bangladesh have been investigated [30][31][32], public perceptions of pandemic management efforts by the responsible bodies have never been studied. Motivated by the work of Bigdeli et al, we decided to explore the public perceptions of COVID-19 pandemic management in Bangladesh by focusing on the relationships between (1) people and the decision-makers (or the larger health system governance), (2) people and the service providers (only physicians were covered in this study), and (3) service providers and decision-makers [33].…”