Title
Highly conserved, non-human-like, and cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes for COVID-19 vaccine design and validation
Date Issued
01 December 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Meyers L.M.
Boyle C.M.
Terry F.
McGonnigal B.G.
Salazar A.
Princiotta M.F.
Martin W.D.
De Groot A.S.
Moise L.
EpiVax
Publisher(s)
Nature Research
Abstract
Natural and vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 immunity in humans has been described but correlates of protection are not yet defined. T cells support the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response, clear virus-infected cells, and may be required to block transmission. In this study, we identified peptide epitopes associated with SARS-CoV-2 T-cell immunity. Using immunoinformatic methods, T-cell epitopes from spike, membrane, and envelope were selected for maximal HLA-binding potential, coverage of HLA diversity, coverage of circulating virus, and minimal potential cross-reactivity with self. Direct restimulation of PBMCs collected from SARS-CoV-2 convalescents confirmed 66% of predicted epitopes, whereas only 9% were confirmed in naive individuals. However, following a brief period of epitope-specific T-cell expansion, both cohorts demonstrated robust T-cell responses to 97% of epitopes. HLA-DR3 transgenic mouse immunization with peptides co-formulated with poly-ICLC generated a potent Th1-skewed, epitope-specific memory response, alleviating safety concerns of enhanced respiratory disease associated with Th2 induction. Taken together, these epitopes may be used to improve our understanding of natural and vaccine-induced immunity, and to facilitate the development of T-cell-targeted vaccines that harness pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 immunity.
Volume
6
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Inmunología Sistema respiratorio Farmacología, Farmacia Virología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85105805304
Source
npj Vaccines
ISSN of the container
20590105
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus