Structural Biology and Biochemistry of Coronavirus

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Coronaviruses remain both a seasonal health burden and pandemic threat due to the antigenic variation of viral glycoproteins and the ability of animal coronaviruses to cause zoonotic infections in humans. Although conserved epitopes have been identified, there is a fundamental gap in understanding and correlating the disposition of conserved coronavirus epitopes on subunit vaccines and designed nanoparticles with immunogenicity. Lack of such information represents important problems and until they are addressed optimal display of conserved coronavirus epitopes cannot be understood in molecular details. In FY 2021, we established milestones in the application of structure-guided antigen design for the development of antigens carrying antigenically conserved epitopes from coronaviruses. This will aid in both understanding conserved coronavirus epitope display and the immunogenicity of epitopes on vaccine platforms. This is significant and relevant to public health because it is expected to expand understanding of the structure and epitope disposition of coronavirus epitopes and will aid immunogen evaluation and design for more efficacious coronavirus vaccines.