1. The presentation of SARS-CoV-2 peptides by the common HLA-A∗02:01 molecule
- Author
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Hannah Sloane, Andrea T. Nguyen, Alan Riboldi-Tunnicliffe, Emma J. Grant, Demetra S.M. Chatzileontiadou, Stephanie Gras, Christian A. Lobos, C. Szeto, Corey Smith, Hanim Halim, and Dhilshan Jayasinghe
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,T cell ,viruses ,education ,02 engineering and technology ,Human leukocyte antigen ,Biology ,Epitope ,Article ,immunology ,03 medical and health sciences ,T-Cell Epitopes ,Immune system ,Immunity ,medicine ,Cytotoxic T cell ,structural biology ,lcsh:Science ,Uncategorized ,National health ,Multidisciplinary ,Chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Virology ,Cell biology ,HLA-A ,virology ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Structural biology ,lcsh:Q ,0210 nano-technology ,CD8 - Abstract
CD8+ T cells are crucial for anti-viral immunity; however, understanding T cell responses requires the identification of epitopes presented by human leukocyte antigens (HLA). To date, few SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell epitopes have been described. Internal viral proteins are typically more conserved than surface proteins and are often the target of CD8+ T cells. Therefore, we have characterized eight peptides derived from the internal SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein predicted to bind HLA-A∗02:01, the most common HLA molecule in the global population. We determined not all peptides could form a complex with HLA-A∗02:01, and the six crystal structures determined revealed that some peptides adopted a mobile conformation. We therefore provide a molecular understanding of SARS-CoV-2 CD8+ T cell epitopes. Furthermore, we show that there is limited pre-existing CD8+ T cell response toward these epitopes in unexposed individuals. Together, these data show that SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid might not contain potent epitopes restricted to HLA-A∗02:01., Graphical abstract, Immunology; structural biology; virology
- Published
- 2021
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