Envelope protein of coronaviruses is a structural protein existing in both monomeric and homopentameric 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 SARSCoV- 2 infection and identifying potential candidates for the development of diagnostic tools and prophylactic-oriented strategies.
Tilocca, B., Soggiu, A., Sanguinetti, M., Babini, G., De Maio, F., Britti, D., Zecconi, A., Bonizzi, L., Urbani, A., Roncada, P., Original Immunoinformatic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein asa strategy to assess cross -protection against COVID-19, <<MICROBES AND INFECTION>>, 2020; 22 (4-5): 182-187. [doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2020.05.013] [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/232537]
Original Immunoinformatic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein as a strategy to assess cross -protection against COVID-19
Sanguinetti, Maurizio;De Maio, Flavio;Urbani, Andrea
;Roncada, Paola
2020
Abstract
Envelope protein of coronaviruses is a structural protein existing in both monomeric and homopentameric 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 SARSCoV- 2 infection and identifying potential candidates for the development of diagnostic tools and prophylactic-oriented strategies.
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