EVOLUTION OF COVID-19 VIRUS AND DESIGNING B EPITOPE VACCINE FOR SPIKE PROTEIN

Zahra M. Al-Khafaji*, Aaisha B. Mahmood and Marium B. Mahmood

ABSTRACT

One of coronaviruses back again to attack human, COVID-19 is highly similar to SARS-CoV Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This study aimed to find the possibility of changing/evolution of one of the most virulent factor 'spike protein' which facilities the attachment of the virus to cell receptor(s), and in silico designing and finding of B epitopes that induce production of antibodies to neutralize and block this attachment. Results show that this protein is continuously changing among the retrieved protein sequences from all over the world. It has been found that there is some B epitopes, 711 - MDLEGKQGNFKNL-189, 555- SNKKFLPF-562, 656 -VNNSYECDIPI -666, 1035- GQSKRVDFC- 1043, derived from Cons sequence constructed form global protein sequences released from 11 Feb to 06 April, these satisfied most of the required criteria, these can be offered for real wet applications.

Keywords: COVID-19, evolution, B epitopes. spike protein, Iraq.