A multi-epitope vaccine design to target SARS-CoV-۲ employing an in silico approach

The Covid-۱۹ pandemic started in ۲۰۱۹ and has become a threat to human health with its rapid spreadworldwide. Despite advances in the field of SARS-CoV-۲ vaccines, the effectiveness of existing vaccinesagainst new variants of the virus is in doubt, and repeated booster doses are needed to maintain antibodylevels at an adequate level. Here, we used structural proteins S, M, E, and N as appropriate candidate targetsto develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-۲. We analyzed these proteins to find analogs and conserve domainsin different SARS-CoV-۲ variants. We used various immunoinformatics tools to predict different T and Blymphocyte epitopes in conserved regions of target proteins. We performed analyses to select the bestepitopes based on allergenicity, antigenicity, physicochemical properties, and toxicity. Six RNA fragmentswere built and linked in a specific order with linkers. We predict the tertiary structure of epitopes and implieddockings with corresponding MCH to evaluate binding affinities. Our results suggest a multiepitope vaccineagainst different variants' converse regions of SARS-CoV-۲ proteins.

Keywords:

Covid-۱۹ , SARS-CoV-۲ , multiepitope vaccine , in silico vaccine design , immunoinformatics