Study addresses glycosylation concerns in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine design
An international team of researchers has found that glycosylation patterns are conserved across the native spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – and the recombinant spike proteins made in laboratories for use in vaccines.
The spike protein, which SARS-CoV-2 uses to bind to and infect cells, is the main target of neutralizing antibodies following natural infection with the virus or vaccination.
A central tenet in vaccine design is the presentation of native-like antigens that will induce protective immunity.
"The abundance of N-linked glycans across the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is a potential source of heterogeneity between the many different vaccine candidates under investigation," says Max Crispin from the University of Southampton in the UK and colleagues.