Envelope protein of coronaviruses is a structural protein existing in both monomeric and homo-pentameric form. It has been related to a multitude of roles including virus infection, replication, dissemination and immune response stimulation. In the present study, we employed an immunoinformatic approach to investigate the major immunogenic domains of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein and map them among the homologue proteins of coronaviruses with tropism for animal species that are closely inter-related with the human beings population all over the world. Also, when not available, we predicted the envelope protein structural folding and mapped SARS-CoV-2 epitopes. Envelope sequences alignment provides evidence of high sequence homology for some of the investigated virus specimens; while the structural mapping of epitopes resulted in the interesting maintenance of the structural folding and epitope sequence localization also in the envelope proteins scoring a lower alignment score. In line with the One-Health approach, our evidences provide a molecular structural rationale for a potential role of taxonomically related coronaviruses in conferring protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection and identifying potential candidates for the development of diagnostic tools and prophylactic-oriented strategies.

Immunoinformatic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein as a strategy to assess cross-protection against COVID-19 / B. Tilocca, A. Soggiu, M. Sanguinetti, G. Babini, F. De Maio, D. Britti, A. Zecconi, L. Bonizzi, A. Urbani, P. Roncada. - In: MICROBES AND INFECTION. - ISSN 1286-4579. - 22:4-5(2020), pp. 182-187. [10.1016/j.micinf.2020.05.013]

Immunoinformatic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein as a strategy to assess cross-protection against COVID-19

A. Soggiu
Secondo
;
A. Zecconi;L. Bonizzi;
2020

Abstract

Envelope protein of coronaviruses is a structural protein existing in both monomeric and homo-pentameric form. It has been related to a multitude of roles including virus infection, replication, dissemination and immune response stimulation. In the present study, we employed an immunoinformatic approach to investigate the major immunogenic domains of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein and map them among the homologue proteins of coronaviruses with tropism for animal species that are closely inter-related with the human beings population all over the world. Also, when not available, we predicted the envelope protein structural folding and mapped SARS-CoV-2 epitopes. Envelope sequences alignment provides evidence of high sequence homology for some of the investigated virus specimens; while the structural mapping of epitopes resulted in the interesting maintenance of the structural folding and epitope sequence localization also in the envelope proteins scoring a lower alignment score. In line with the One-Health approach, our evidences provide a molecular structural rationale for a potential role of taxonomically related coronaviruses in conferring protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection and identifying potential candidates for the development of diagnostic tools and prophylactic-oriented strategies.
Coronavirus; COVID-19; Diagnosis; Immunoinformatics; One-health; SARS-CoV-2; Animals; Betacoronavirus; Computational Biology; Coronavirus Infections; Epitope Mapping; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Humans; Models, Molecular; One Health; Pandemics; Phylogeny; Pneumonia, Viral; Protein Conformation; Sequence Alignment; Sequence Analysis, Protein; Viral Envelope Proteins
Settore VET/05 - Malattie Infettive degli Animali Domestici
Settore BIO/10 - Biochimica
Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica
2020
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/747372
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