The SARS-CoV-2 N Protein Is a Good Component in a Vaccine

Ahlén, Gustaf; Frelin, Lars; Nikouyan, Negin; Weber, Friedemann; Höglund, Urban; Larsson, Olivia; Westman, Marie; Tuvesson, Ola; Gidlund, Eva‐Karin; Cadossi, Matteo; Appelberg, Sofia; Mirazimi, Alì; Sällberg, Matti

doi:10.1128/jvi.01279-20

Cited by 39 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The SARS-CoV-2 N protein contains non-specific RNA-binding activity and has suppressed RNAi by restraining dsRNA in host cells (Mu et al 2020 ). Additionally, N gene of SARS-CoV-2 was found to be safe and strongly antigenic as a DNA vaccine (Ahlén et al 2020 ). The crystal structure of N protein of SARS-CoV-2 is highly similar to that of the earlier reported N protein of coronavirus except different characteristics of surface electrostatic potential (Kang et al 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing of Nucleocapsid Protein Based Novel Multi-epitope Vaccine Against SARS-COV-2 Using Immunoinformatics Approach

Kumar

Qureshi

Sagurthi

et al. 2020

Int J Pept Res Ther

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing of Nucleocapsid Protein Based Novel Multi-epitope Vaccine Against SARS-COV-2 Using Immunoinformatics Approach

Kumar

Qureshi

Sagurthi

et al. 2020

Int J Pept Res Ther

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“…In general, the antibodies against the N protein were shown to be more reactive, and a semi-quantitative analysis after exposure to time normalization showed that anti-N IgG may dominate in abundance independently of the stage of disease (Fig1B). In fact, N-protein has been described as the more abundant viral protein by several groups (37–39) and extremely immunogenic (16,40). Regarding the presence of antibodies within the first days after infection, a quick seroconversion has been reported in some cases (33,34,41,42) and suggested an increased seroconversion rate from week 1 (25.9%) to ≥4 (96.5%) post symptoms onset (42).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serological Profile Of Specific Antibodies Against Dominant Antigens Of SARS-CoV-2 In Chilean COVID-19 Patients.

Cereceda

González-Stegmaier

Briones

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and has been a pandemic since March 2020. Currently, the virus has infected more than 50 million people worldwide and more than half a million in Chile. For many coronaviruses, Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins are described as major antigenic molecules, inducing seroconversion and production of neutralizing antibodies. In this work, we evaluated the presence in serum of IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies against N and S proteins of SARS-CoV-2 using western blot, and developed an ELISA test for the qualitative characterization of COVID-19 patients. Patients with an active infection or who have recovered from COVID-19 showed specific immunoblotting patterns for the recombinants S protein and its domains S1 and S2, as well as for the N protein of SARS-CoV-2. Anti-N antibodies were more frequently detected than anti-S or anti-S1-RBD antibodies. People who were never exposed to SARS-CoV-2 did not show reactivity. Finally, indirect ELISA assays using N and S1-RBD proteins, alone or in combination, were established with variable sensitivity and specificity depending on the antigen bound to the solid phase. Overall, Spike showed higher specificity than the nucleocapsid, and comparable sensitivity for both antigens. Both approaches confirmed the seroconversion after infection and allowed us to implement the analysis of antibodies in blood for research purposes in a local facility.

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“…Recently, it has been suggested that SARS-CoV-2 NP could be considered as an advantageous vaccine target owing to its conserved nature and strong immunogenicity (35). A recently published data by Ahlen et al (36), also showed a DNA vaccine based on a codon-optimized SARS-CoV-2 NP gene induced high titers of anti-NP antibodies in immunized rabbits, but most interestingly, they showed that immunization of mice with a DNA vaccine expressing the SARS-CoV-2 NP protein induced the strongest T cell response against a peptide region spanning our P151-170 peptide.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of immunodominant epitopes on nucleocapsid and spike proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 in Iranian COVID-19 patients

Maghsood

Shokri

Jeddi-Tehrani

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Given the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 virus as a life-threatening pandemic, identification of immunodominant epitopes of the viral structural proteins, particularly the nucleocapsid (NP) protein and receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein, is important to determine targets for immunotherapy and diagnosis. In this study, epitope screening was performed using a panel of overlapping peptides spanning the entire sequences of the RBD and NP proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in the sera from 66 COVID-19 patients and 23 healthy subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, three non-overlapping peptides belonging to the S2 domain of spike protein were assessed. Our results showed that while reactivity of patients’ sera with reduced recombinant RBD protein was significantly lower than the native form of RBD (p<0.001), no significant differences were observed for reactivity of patients’ sera with reduced and non-reduced NP protein. Pepscan analysis revealed weak to moderate reactivity towards different RBD peptide pools, which was more focused on peptides encompassing aa 181-223 of RBD. NP peptides, however, displayed strong reactivity with a single peptide covering aa 151-170. These findings were confirmed by peptide depletion experiments using both ELISA and Western blotting. Altogether, our data suggest the involvement of mostly conformational disulfide bond-dependent immunodominant epitopes in RBD-specific antibody response, while the IgG response to NP is dominated by linear epitopes. Identification of antigenic epitope in NP and RBD of SARS-CoV-2 could provide important advances for the development of passive and active immunotherapy as well as diagnostic tools for the control of COVID-19 infection.

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The SARS-CoV-2 N Protein Is a Good Component in a Vaccine

Abstract: Dutta and co-workers suggest in a recent letter (1) that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (N) might be a good vaccine target.…

Cited by 39 publications

References 8 publications

Designing of Nucleocapsid Protein Based Novel Multi-epitope Vaccine Against SARS-COV-2 Using Immunoinformatics Approach

Designing of Nucleocapsid Protein Based Novel Multi-epitope Vaccine Against SARS-COV-2 Using Immunoinformatics Approach

Serological Profile Of Specific Antibodies Against Dominant Antigens Of SARS-CoV-2 In Chilean COVID-19 Patients.

Identification of immunodominant epitopes on nucleocapsid and spike proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 in Iranian COVID-19 patients

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