“…Lab-based assays can also be performed to identify epitopes for vaccine targets that would be less prone to mutations by finding epitopes and antibodies that have high binding affinities across related viral species. Recently, Wang and colleagues identified the main antigens of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein targeted by the immune system, which were distinct from antigens that are more conserved between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 [ 42 ]. By eliminating the main epitopes in a lab strain of the virus and infecting mice, the mouse immune cells produced antibodies that targeted the conserved antigens and were more broadly neutralizing against both SARS-CoV species.…”