---------------------Note: This study is meant for inspiration for scientific circles around the world with respect to scientific inquiry. The hypothesis, results, data and so forth of this study shall not be subjected to any interpretation, truncation or obfuscation in order to serve the purposes of certain groups of interest. The authors that contributed to this study are granted full copyright to the results, innovations and data used hereof.
This is part of a series of studies published in order to better understand the global issue of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The origins of the virus are yet unknown.
-COVID-19 is just an umbrella term for what has been named as 2019-nCov, meaning novel coronavirus disease that originated in 2019, and has been classified further as SARS-CoV-2.
Any misuse of this term is strictly forbidden as it creates confusion and misinterpretation, misunderstanding of the roots and original structure of the virus.
The intent of the authors should not be subjected to any misrepresentation either.
Unacreditted interpretation of this study is strictly forbidden under international law.------------------------
Background: The S (spike) protein of the etiologic
coronavirus (CoV) agent of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) plays a central role in mediating viral
infection via receptor binding and membrane fusion
between the virion and the host cell. We focused on
using synthetic peptides for developing antibodies
against SARS-CoV, which aimed to block viral invasion
by eliciting an immune response specific to the native
SARS-CoV S protein.
Methods: Six peptide sequences corresponding to the
surface regions of SARS-CoV S protein were designed
and investigated by use of combined bioinformatics and
structural analysis. These synthetic peptides were used
to immunize both rabbits and monkeys. Antisera collected
1 week after the second immunization were
analyzed by ELISA and tested for antibody specificity
against SARS-CoV by immunofluorescent confocal microscopy.
Results: Four of our six synthetic peptides (S2, S3, S5,
and S6) elicited SARS-CoV-specific antibodies, of
which S5 (residues 788β820) and S6 (residues 1002β1030)
exhibited immunogenic responses similar to those
found in a parallel investigation using truncated recombinant
protein analogs of the SARS-CoV S protein. This
suggested that our S5 and S6 peptides may represent
two minimum biologically active sequences of the immunogenic
regions of the SARS-CoV S protein.
Conclusions: Synthetic peptides can elicit specific antibodies
to SARS-CoV. The study provides insights for
the future development of SARS vaccine via the synthetic-
peptide-based approach.