Identification of immunogenic determinants of the spike protein of SARS-like coronavirus

Virol Sin. 2013 Apr;28(2):92-6. doi: 10.1007/s12250-013-3292-y. Epub 2013 Apr 11.

Abstract

Bat SARS-like coronavirus (SL-CoV) has a genome organization almost identical to that of SARS-CoV, but the N-terminus of the Spike (S) proteins, which interacts with host receptor and is a major target of neutralizing antibodies against CoVs, of the two viruses has only 63-64% sequence identity. Although there have been reports studying the overall immunogenicity of SSL, knowledge on the precise location of immunodominant determinants for SSL is still lacking. In this study, using a series of truncated expressed SSL fragments and SSL specific mouse sera, we identified two immunogenic determinants for SSL. Importantly, one of the two regions seems to be located in a region not shared by known immunogenic determinants of the SSARS. This finding will be of potential use in future monitoring of SL-CoV infection in bats and spillover animals and in development of more effective vaccine to cover broad protection against this new group of coronaviruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Humans
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / genetics
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology*
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / metabolism*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Vaccines