Defining a highly conserved cryptic epitope for antibody recognition of SARS-CoV-2 variants
Aihua Hao, Wenping Song, Cheng Li, Xiang Zhang, Chao Tu, Xun Wang, Pengfei Wang, Yanling Wu, Tianlei Ying, Lei Sun
Abstract
In recent months, additional Omicron variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including the BA.5 sublineage BF.7 and BQ.1.1 and the BA.2 linage recombination XBB, XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16, have emerged following the BA.2 and BA.5 subvariants. Remarkably, BQ.1.1 and XBB showed substantial neutralization escape as compared with the previous variants, and have gradually become the dominant variants worldwide. 1 These facts emphasize the urgency of identifying highly conserved SARS-CoV-2 epitopes, which would be essential for the design of universal vaccines and broadly neutralizing antibodies.
Topics & Concepts
EpitopeSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Computational biologyBiologyCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)AntibodyVirology2019-20 coronavirus outbreakGeneticsMedicinePathologyOutbreakInfectious disease (medical specialty)DiseaseSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchMonoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies ResearchImmunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders