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IMR Press / FBL / Volume 29 / Issue 5 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2905196
Open Access Original Research
Exploring the S Protein of SARS-CoV-2 to Design a Novel Multi-Epitope Vaccine against COVID-19 Based on Immunoinformatics Approaches
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1 Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Division, Department of Pharmacy, Medical Supplies Centre of PLA General Hospital, 100039 Beijing, China
2 Department of Pharmacy, The No. 944 Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA, 735099 Jiuquan, Gansu, China
3 Medical School of Chinese PLA, 100016 Beijing, China
4 Department of Pharmacy, Air Force Logistics University, 221000 Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
5 Department of Pharmacy, Chinese People’s Armed Police Force Hospital of Beijing, 100018 Beijing, China
6 Medical Supplies Centre of PLA General Hospital, 100039 Beijing, China
*Correspondence: yssvip@sina.com (Shusen Yao); xufh@301hospital.com.cn (Fenghua Xu)
These authors contributed equally.
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2024, 29(5), 196; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2905196
Submitted: 29 November 2023 | Revised: 21 January 2024 | Accepted: 18 February 2024 | Published: 21 May 2024
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Developing a novel COVID-19 multi-epitope vaccine (CoVMEV) is essential to containing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: The virus’s immunodominant B and T cell epitopes from the S protein were found and joined to create the CoVMEV. Bioinformatics techniques were used to investigate the secondary and tertiary structures, as well as the physical and chemical properties of CoVMEV. Results: CoVMEV exhibited high antigenicity and immunogenicity scores, together with good water solubility and stability. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and toll-like receptor4 (TLR4), which are critical in triggering immunological responses, were also strongly favoured by CoVMEV. Molecular dynamics simulation and immune stimulation studies revealed that CoVMEV effectively activated T and B lymphocytes, and increased the number of active CD8+ T cells than similar vaccines. Conclusion: CoVMEV holds promise as a potential vaccine candidate for COVID-19, given its robust immunogenicity, stability, antigenicity, and capacity to stimulate a strong immune response. This study presents a significant design concept for the development of peptidyl vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2. Further investigation and clinical trials will be crucial in assessing the efficacy and safety of CoVMEV as a potential vaccine for COVID-19.

Keywords
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
antigenic epitopes
multi-epitope vaccine
immunoinformatics
Funding
82171814/National Natural Science Foundation of China
Figures
Fig. 1.
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