The influence of major S protein mutations of SARS-CoV-2 on the potential B cell epitopes

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly transmitted worldwide and results in the COVID-19 pandemic . Spike glycoprotein on surface is a key factor of viral transmission, and has appeared a lot of variants due to gene mutations, which may influence the viral antigenicity and vaccine efficacy . Here, we used bioinformatic tools to analyze B - cell epitopes of prototype S protein and its 9 common variant s. 12 potential linear and 53 discontinuous epitopes of B-cell s were predicted from the S protein prototype . Importantly, by c omparing the epitope alterations between prototype and variant s, we demonstrate that B-cell epitopes and antigenicity of 9 variant s appear significantly different alterations. The dominant D614 G variant impacts the potential epitope least, o nly with moderately elevated antigenicity , while the epitopes and antigenicity of some mutants ( V483A, V367F , etc.) with small incidence in the population change greatly. These results suggest that t he current ly developed vaccine s should be valid for a majority of SARS-CoV-2 infectors . This study provides a scientific basis for large-scale application of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and for taking precautions against the probable appearance of antigen escape induced by genetic variation after vaccination .

Severe SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Reinfection With Delta Variant After Recovery From Breakthrough Infection by Alpha Variant in a Fully Vaccinated Health Worker

“…As a result, this mutation may allow a greater interaction between the spike protein and hACE2 ( 35 ). Thus genetic alterations may impair the host immune system's capacity to recognize and resist the virus ( 36 , 37 ). Certain mutations may enhance viral spread from cell to cell by fusion.…”

V483A: an Emerging Mutation Hotspot of SARS-CoV-2

“…Epitope analysis of the V483A mutant strain proved that 13 effective B-cell epitopes significantly advanced the mutant antigenicity compared with the wild-type strain they were 62∼75, 487∼492, 210∼221, 181∼186, 342∼353, 363∼377, 617∼628, 405∼418, 405∼413, 379∼389, 442∼447, 458∼463 and 698∼709. Although these epitopes account for a very small proportion of the population, precautions should be carried out against any antigen escape induced by genetic variation during vaccination [ 35 ]. One of the in silico study using NetMHC4 software binding affinity between the epitope of S protein to class I MHC using the most frequent HLA is predicted.…”

Functional importance of the D614G mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

“…However, many studies have shown that humoral immunity is likely protective against both variants. Yuan and Li employed in silico prediction of 12 linear and 53 discontinuous B-cell epitopes from the S protein and found that the D614G mutation had a negligible impact on predicted epitopes [ 68 ]. Experimental data pertaining to neutralization of S(G614) and S(D614) pseudoviruses have been reported in abundance.…”