A Sequence Homology and Bioinformatic Approach Can Predict Candidate Targets for Immune Responses to SARS CoV 2
Summary Effective countermeasures against the recent emergence and rapid expansion of the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS CoV 2) require the development of data and tools to understand and monitor its spread and immune responses to it. However, little information is available about the targets of immune responses to SARS CoV 2. We used the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB) to catalog available data related to other coronaviruses. This includes SARS CoV, which has high sequence similarity to SARS CoV 2 and is the best characterized coronavirus in terms of epitope responses. We identified multiple specific regions in SARS CoV 2 that have high homology to the SARS CoV virus. Parallel bioinformatic predictions identified a priori potential B and T cell epitopes for SARS CoV 2. The independent identification of the same regions using two approaches reflects the high probability that these regions are promising targets for immune recognition of SARS CoV 2. These predictions can facilitate effective vaccine design against this virus of high priority.
Cell Host Microbe